The 2026 Sydney Roosters NRLW side has cemented its legacy with a crushing grand final win over the Brisbane Broncos.
Twelve months on from a heartbreaking loss to the women from Brisbane, the Roosters not only won the premiership, but did something no other top-flight rugby league team has achieved in Australia for more than a century.
Here are the quick hits from Sydney’s NRLW grand final win over Brisbane.
1. Origin wingers make uncharacteristic errors
It doesn’t matter how much experience you have, every player feels some sort of pressure on grand final day.
And the pressure of a grand final was on display in the opening minutes, with a pair of State of Origin representatives making uncharacteristic errors.
Sydney Roosters winger Jayme Fressard had a proper shocker to begin the grand final, failing to gather the opening kick-off and nudging it into touch.
As the ball came to the NSW State of Origin rep, she tried to trap it with her foot but kicked the footy over the sideline.
The Roosters were able to defend their goal-line and then it was a Broncos Origin rep to have a shocker.
It was Fressard’s opposing winger, Julia Robinson, who dropped the ball stone cold in her own half, which gifted the Roosters a golden chance to open the scoring.
Unlike the Broncos, the Roosters were able to score when winger Brydie Parker fielded a great cross-field kick from five-eighth Jocelyn Kelleher and touched down in the corner.
2. Tarryn Aiken takes over in 7-minute blitz
The Roosters were dominating the grand final in the first half, as multiple errors from Brisbane kept them under immense pressure.
But Brisbane’s goal-line defence was one aspect of their game that was withstanding the impressive Roosters.
That was until Sydney halfback Tarryn Aiken, who missed last year’s decider due to an ACL injury, produced three moments of brilliance in a 7-minute stretch that led to a trio of tries for the Roosters.
First Aiken grubbered for herself and when the ball bounced off the arm of Brisbane winger Kerri Johnson, the Sydney halfback caught the ricochet and scored the game’s second try.
Four minutes later, Aiken was setting up the third try of the match. The halfback lined up at lock in an attacking scrum 10 metres from Brisbane’s goal-line. Aiken passed from the base of the scrum to the left, wrapped around and retook the footy, then gave a perfect short pass to captain Isabelle Kelly who charged over.
The Roosters then charged down the field again and when a sixth tackle play looked to be coming unstuck, it was Aiken again who produced a great kick which Brisbane’s Deleni Paitai fumbled, and the Tricolours regathered and Fressard scored in the corner.
3. Brigginshaw on report in her farewell game
The trailblazing career of Ali Brigginshaw, someone who has been instrumental in the growth of women’s rugby league, came to an end with an NRLW grand final.
But the legendary Broncos, Maroos and Jillaroo might have considered herself lucky not to have been sin-binned in her farewell game.
With the Roosters on top, Brigginshaw was desperate not to let Aiken put in an attacking cross-field kick.
Aiken did, which led to a try, but Brigginshaw’s low dive resulted in her clattering into the planted leg of Aiken.
A hit under the knee led to Aiken landing hard on her back and could have easily resulted in Brigginshaw being sent for a 10-minute break on the sideline.
But referee Belinda Sharpe decided that putting Brigginshaw on report was the only action necessary, which really is academic considering this was her farewell outing.
4. Dally M medallist pulls off one of season’s best tackles
Down 26-0 early in the second half, Brisbane’s misery looked destined to continue when the Roosters were about to cross over for what would have been their seventh try of the grand final.
Jessica Sergis of the Roosters is tackled by Tamika Upton of the Broncos. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
A high bomb from the Roosters was allowed to bounce, the ball took a wicked turn and landed in the arms of Brydie Parker, and a brilliant flick pass on the inside looked set to end with Jessica Sergis scoring in the corner.
But Brisbane’s captain and fullback Tamika Upton, the Dally M medalist this season, produced a try-saving tackle as good as any seen this season.
The Brisbane number one screamed across in cover and was able to twist her body in the tackle and make sure she was under the ball as Sergis fell to the line.
With Upton around her like a snake, Sergis was unable to get her arm free and ground the ball. It didn’t change the outcome, but it was another example of why Upton is the best player in the competition.
5. Roosters complete first perfect season in 101 years
The Roosters came into Sunday’s decider with plenty of confidence.
They had won 30 of their previous 31 NRLW matches. There only loss was last year’s grand final, to the Broncos, denying them an undefeated season.
But the Tricolours regrouped in 2026, won every match on their way to the decider, then exacted revenge with a commanding win to complete the perfect season.
The Sydney Roosters became the first men’s or women’s side in top grade rugby league to go the entire season without suffering a loss since the 1959 ST George Dragons.
That Dragons team recorded 17 wins, and one draw, on their way to a fourth consecutive premiership, in a dominant era of 11 straight titles.
But the 2026 Roosters NRLW side had no draws, just 13 wins from 13 matches. The last team to win every match in a season was South Sydney, way back in 1925.
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