Roosters star seals grand final spot after last year’s heartbreak
The undefeated Sydney Roosters are close to finishing with the perfect season, landing a spot in the NRLW grand final.
The preliminary final against the Raiders at Allianz Stadium wasn’t easy for the Roosters, only sealing victory in the last two minutes when halfback Tarryn Aiken scored a brilliant solo try to make it 20-10.
Tarryn Aiken scores the match-winner. Getty Images
Aiken’s match-winning try makes for a heart-warming story after she missed last year’s grand final with a knee injury.
“Aiken ices it – she missed out on the grand final 12 months ago in heartbreaking fashion, but she’ll be there in 2026,” Brenton Speed said on Nine.
The victory means the Roosters will have both the men’s and women’s team in the decider next weekend at Accor Stadium.
“You could see how much it means to these girls, they knew today was not going to be an easy task after the week off especially,” Ruan Sims said.
Early in the match it looked another Roosters’ bloodbath was on the way when Jayme Fressard scored in the corner after a simple exchange of passes.
Following 20 minutes of football, that score became 10-0 after Roosters forward Rita Butler ran over defenders following a set play.
But the Raiders were determined to make the Roosters earn their points, particularly Krystal Blackwell.
Blackwell had to receive medical attention twice after blood spilt profusely from a cut before crossing right on half-time.
The five-eighth had the ball 20 metres out from the line and went through a gaping hole as she modelled a new jersey and blood still streaming from the nose.
“She’s got the jets, she’s got the try,” caller Brenton Speed said.
The conversion was missed for the Raiders which meant the Roosters went into the break leading 10-4.
Fressard didn’t return after the break, having injured her shoulder trying to stop Blackwell, which will be a concern going into the grand final.
The Roosters were first to score when a bomb wasn’t caught at the back by hesitant Raiders winger Isabelle Waterman. Jess Sergis then out-sprinted her to the ball and put it down under the posts.
With 18 minutes left, a winning try looked likely when Isabelle Kelly beat fullback Sheridan Gallagher with open space in front of her. However, Blackwell popped up again, ankle-tapping the Roosters skipper before the line and forcing an error.
Krystal Blackwell during the preliminary final. NRL Imagery
“Wow, what a huge play from Krystal Blackwell,” Allana Ferguson said.
The Raiders were then alive with 10 minutes to go as Hollie-Mae Dodd barged her way over close to the line to make it a six-point ball game.
But the Roosters showed their class when Aiken ran on to the ball and dummied slightly to push through the defence and seal a grand final spot.
“That was one of the hardest games we’ve played this year ... Canberra always give it to us, they’ve got a really good pack and it was a great game,” Olivia Kernick said during her post-game interview on Nine.
The minor premiers will meet either Brisbane or Gold Coast in the grand final.
