[1][2] The first grand final since 1996 to feature two Sydney-based teams was played on the night of Sunday, 5 October at Telstra Stadium in the inner western suburb of Sydney Olympic Park.

[6] Troy Cassar-Daley then sang the Australian national anthem just before Bill Harrigan, refereeing his 7th consecutive grand final and 10th overall, blew time-on and the Roosters kicked off.

In the eighth minute, and after repeat sets of six had brought the Sydney Roosters close to Penrith's try-line, forward Jason Cayless crossed it beneath the uprights, but the ball was held up by the defence.

Penrith lock forward Scott Sattler was chasing and twenty metres from the try-line tackled Byrne, pulling him out of the field in what would become one of the most famous plays in grand final history.

[11][12][13] In the sixty-sixth minute the Penrith side had made their way up to within five metres of the Roosters' try line where Luke Priddis again ran from dummy half and scored, stretching out of the tackle to touch down beside the uprights.

Luke Priddis was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as man-of-the-match[17] before the Prime Minister of Australia John Howard presented Panthers captain Craig Gower with the premiership trophy.

Having won the premiership, the Penrith Panthers travelled to England the following February to play the Bradford Bulls, winners of the 2003 Super League Grand Final in the World Club Challenge.