The Sydney Roosters are 2024 NRLW champions, clinching their second premiership – and first since 2021 – after surviving by the skin of their teeth in a 32-28 grand final thriller over Cronulla at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
John Strange’s side held on after a very impressive Cronulla comeback threatened to undo his side’s emphatic 24-0 first-half start to the decider.
After a tense opening 15 minutes Dally M Medallist Olivia Kernick burst through some poor defence to get her side on the board, kick-starting a 20-minute avalanche of tries as Jocelyn Kelleher’s kicking put Tony Herman’s team under immense pressure.
Five Roosters first-half tries had the Sharks down but not out at the break and they put in a much improved second-half performance to reduce the deficit to just two points after Ellie Johnston crashed over under the posts with less than 10 minutes to go for a bizarre try when she inadvertently caught a pass in between her thighs.
The comeback would ultimately fall short as Kernick sealed the premiership with her second try of the afternoon.
The opening 40 minutes couldn’t have gone much further south for them, but the Sharks’ character was on full display as they came agonisingly close to a highly improbable and historic grand final comeback.
Captain Tiana Penitani led the charge, literally, scoring their first try and willing her side to the brink of a miracle.
“Could not be more proud of the girls with their effort,” Herman said.
“To come back like that, take it to the last play of the game – what an amazing football side and amazing group of people to stick together. We were down 24-0 at half-time and we got back to (26-24), we just never gave up.
“Just a real testament to the girls. Sometimes that happens in footy but they way they kept battling to the end, I couldn’t be prouder of them.
“I care a lot about these girls so to see them so upset after a game, I think it’s really important to get around each other. Some of the girls talk about moments in the game but there’s many moments in a game so it doesn’t come back to a few moments.
“We’re just really proud of them, proud of what we did in the game, proud of what we did this season and to be in a grand final two years into a start I think it’s incredible and the girls need to take that forward.”
Karyn Murphy Medallist Tarryn Aiken and Kelleher were on form early, with Jess Sergis and Kernick also impactful in a dominant first-half showing from the 2024 premiers.
The Tricolours were the first to score through Dally M winner Kernick, crashing over after some questionable Cronulla defence.
Jayme Fressard extended the Roosters’ advantage not long after, combining with Isabelle Kelly before adding the second four-pointer of the afternoon.
Brydie Parker scored in the corner to continue the first-half blitz with the Sharks utterly tormented by Kelleher’s bombs.
Ill-discipline continued to hurt the Sharks as Parker went in for her second try in the 26th minute after consecutive Roosters penalties.
Kelleher was having a less successful afternoon from the tee with the scoreline remaining at 18-0.
Just as the Sharks looked to be stabilising, Aiken split the Sharks defence with a quality pass to Sergis, the centre scoring her side’s fifth try just before half-time to give Cronulla a mighty mountain to climb in the second half.
Just minutes into the second stanza Tiana Penitani started the ascent, beating Sergis one-on-one and scoring her side’s first try.
Quiet up until 45th minute, Emma Tonegato showed what she can do by setting up Quincy Dodd as momentum began to swing.
The Sharks wave was threatening to turn into a tsunami when Georgia Hannaway went in to score, closing the margin to just six.
The Roosters were able to regain possession from a short kick-off, however, and Kelleher added two points from a subsequent penalty.
Johnston was fortunate to control a pass that she thought was going to a teammate, with the Steeden lodged between her legs before she scored under the posts to cut the deficit to two points.
But Kernick added her second try to cap off a fantastic 2024 for her and the Roosters.
Penitani completed her double with a minute left on the clock but it would prove to be mere consolation, as a huge Cronulla comeback came up just short.
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