Twelve months on from Brisbane’s stunning victory over the Roosters in the 2025 grand final, the two teams meet again in the decider on Sunday.
The narrative is eerily similar. The Roosters have again gone undefeated this season and are favourites to lift the trophy, but Scott Prince’s side remain one of the most dangerous in the NRLW and are capable of beating anyone on their day when their big guns are firing.
From three-time Dally M medal-winning fullback Tamika Upton to prodigious halfback Jesse Southwell, the Broncos have what players like refer to as “strike all across the park”.
But then, so do the Tricolours, who boast numerous Dally M positional award winners including lock Olivia Kernick, widely regarded as one of the best players in the game, centre pairing Isabelle Kelly and Jess Sergis, and Jillaroos No.7 Tarryn Aiken.
These two teams have been the best in the league for several years now, and are the main suppliers of players to the NSW and Queensland squads come Origin time.
The duopoly has led to criticism the NRLW is becoming too predictable, but Price says he relishes battle. “I enjoy the challenge,” Prince said. “You want to play against the best, and I’m sure [Roosters coach] John [Strange] would say the same.
“It’s about preparing your team as best as you can in a game. There’s going to be moments where sometimes you win, sometimes you lose those little moments.
“But ultimately, at the end of the day, it’s about your team performing at it’s best. If we’re able to walk away from that knowing we’ve given it our all, you’ve got to be happy with it.”
For Strange, the Roosters’ agonising defeat in the 2025 decider is in the past.
“I know it’s a grand final, but for us it’s another game,” Strange said. “And we want to keep on improving from our last game, so no nightmares this week of what happened last year.
“I’ve had plenty of them over the playing career and coaching career, [and I’ve learnt] not to worry about that one incident.”
Roosters winger in doubt after injury in prelim final
Jayme Fressard is a “50-50” chance to play in Sunday’s grand final as she continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
The Tricolours and NSW flyer didn’t return for the second half in the Rooster’s preliminary final victory against the Raiders last weekend after injuring her shoulder trying to make a tackle on Krystal Blackwell.
Fressard was optimistic she would get through captain’s run on Saturday and be able to take to the field come Sunday.
“I’ve got a bit of fitness testing to get through, but looking positive at the moment,” Fressard said.
“Obviously, I don’t want to let anyone down on the team, so I’ll do whatever it takes. For me, I’ve been around the game a long time, so I know my body and I know myself. But I just want to prepare the best I can and be the best teammate when I get on that field as well.”
Extra incentive to send trailblazers out on a high
Three of the NRLW’s longest-serving players will retire after Sunday’s decider, which means a fairytale ending for some and a heartbreaking loss for others.
Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter are the two retiring Roosters, while Broncos veteran Ali Brigginshaw will also hang up the boots at the end of the season.
At least one of them will be left disappointed on Sunday, but Roosters skipper Isabelle Kelly said all three had left their mark on the competition.
“Ali has been a pioneer of our game for a very long time now, and I’ve been really lucky to know Ali for a number of years, and play with her an experience her as a leader as well,” Kelly said.
“Millie is, and we call her, part machine at the Roosters. She never stops. She’s always putting her best foot forward.
“She promotes the game in such a positive and respectful light … and Corby, I don’t think I’ve heard someone say something bad about Corby – she’s the most humble, beautiful human … So for these three, no matter what happens on Sunday, I just know they are held in such high regard throughout this competition.”
Billie Eder is a sports reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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