THE Sydney Roosters have walloped defending premiers Brisbane 30-6 in the NRLW grand final with halves Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken playing starring roles.
The Roosters were dominant from start to finish as they extracted the ultimate revenge on Brisbane, completing the perfect send-off for retiring Roosters Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter and capping off an undefeated season.
Roosters halves Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken had blinders at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon as winger Brydie Parker scored a hat-trick in what was the equal-biggest winning margin in an NRLW decider.
“She’s outstanding, she’s a great player,” Roosters coach John Strange boasted of his halfback Aiken.
“You’ve given someone like Taz early ball and the defence is retreating, then she will pick teams apart because she’s the best at it.”
This was a footballing lesson in power, precision and skill and the Roosters, undefeated in 2026, deserved their third premiership and were clearly the best side in the competition.
“I was comfortable before we kicked off to be honest,” Strange said.
“I was very confident every time we had to defend early, especially on our line, really confident in these girls repelling the Broncos.
“It might come across a bit arrogant, but that’s what I expected.”
Last year the Tricolours were unbeaten until the decider, which the Broncos won 22-18 with a late and controversial try.
There was no heartache this time as the Strange-coached side dominated from the first whistle.
Four-time premiership winners Brisbane, who had not previously lost a grand final, bumbled and fumbled their way through the match in a sad end to the stellar club career of retiring great Ali Brigginshaw.
Roosters prop Elliott has now won five titles with three different clubs and will join fullback Baxter, now with two premierships, in NRLW retirement.
“We’re going to send Millie and Corbs out as winners,” Strange said.
“Whether they won today or not, they go out as champions, and that’s all three of those girls (including Brigginshaw).
“They’ve retired from the field, but they go out as absolute pioneers and champions of the game. I’m just really proud of all three of them.”
The Roosters scored six tries to lead 26-0 at halftime, the largest advantage in history in an NRLW decider, to blow Brisbane off the park.
Five-eighth Kelleher, who had worn the No 7 in last year’s decider, had blamed herself for the late Broncos try that secured them the 2025 grand final, but she more than atoned.
Her towering bombs gave Brisbane’s back five nightmares all match.
Aiken missed last year’s decider with an ACL rupture, but took control with her elite skillset to score a try and set up two others in the opening half.
The Roosters played ad-lib footy on the final tackle and Kelleher conjured an inch-perfect cross-field kick for winger Parker to score the opening try.
Aiken regained her own short kick after a ricochet to make it 10-0 after 17 minutes.
A scintillating scrum move with Kelleher, Baxter and Aiken all involved put captain Isabelle Kelly in. Aiken’s next bomb was bungled by the Broncos and Jayme Fressard swooped.
Aiken and Kelly sent Parker in for her second, barnstorming prop Amber Hall crashed over and by halftime the game was in the bag.
By Joel GOULD and Annabelle BANFIELD, AAP
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