Changing of the guard complete as Roosters gun usurps retiring star

A changing of the guard is complete for the Jillaroos, with star halfback Tarryn Aiken set to fill the hole left by Broncos star Ali Brigginshaw.

The retiring NRLW pioneer was holding on to a small glimpse of hope that her rugby league career would end at the World Cup, but coach Jess Skinner opted to go in a different direction and omitted the retiring star.

It ends a lengthy and successful tenure for Brigginshaw in the national team and Skinner admitted that it was “one of the hardest phone calls I’ve ever had to make as a coach to a player” when selections were finalised on Monday.

The 36-year-old was upset to hear the news, but Skinner could not look past how classy Aiken and Jocelyn Kelleher were in the halves for the Roosters in their 30-6 win over the Broncos to win the NRLW grand final on Sunday.

Aiken spearheaded the Chooks to a 26-0 lead at half time and showed enough to earn selection in the Australian squad for the upcoming tournament.

There’s a chance that both Aiken and Kelleher could combine for the Jillaroos, with Jesse Southwell no guarantee of keeping her spot.

Southwell and Brigginshaw are the incumbent Aussie halves, having played in the successful 2025 Pacific Championships tournament.

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Aiken was at her brilliant best in the NRLW decider and took home the Karyn Murphy Medal, running for 111 metres and laying on two try assists, while scoring a four-pointer of her own against the Broncos.

It comes after she missed last year’s grand final due to an ACL injury.

Roosters coach John Strange was full of praise for the 27-year-old and believes she has what it takes to dominate on the international stage.

“She is outstanding, such a great player. I was really impressed,” he said.

“When you are given someone like Tarryn some early ball and the defence is retreating, she will pick teams apart because she is the best at it.”

Aiken can lay claim to being the NRLW’s best player, even if the Dally M Medal went to Broncos fullback Tamika Upton for a third time last week.

Raecene McGregor, who finished two points behind Upton in the Dally M race, will present the biggest challenge for Aiken at the World Cup.

McGregor was vital in helping the Wests Tigers find success this season and has long been the starting halfback for New Zealand.

Australia will not face New Zealand until the semi finals or the final.

As the plaudits come thick and fast for Aiken, who is stamping her mark on the women’s game, there is no doubting Brigginshaw’s legacy.

Upton described Brigginshaw as an “irreplaceable” talent, while Strange lauded her as a champion of the game both on and off the field as he farewell his own retiring duo in Corban Baxter and Millie Elliott.

“I know she is not with us but she has been such a pioneer for women’s rugby league,” Strange said on Sunday evening.

“She is such an advocate for the space and she will continue that ... whether the girls won today or not, they go out as champions, all three of them.

“I am lucky to have been a small part of the journey with Millie and Corbs. I didn’t get that with Ali, but I got to watch her – she is tremendous.

“I am so proud of all three of them.”

Upton said you only had to look at the handful of rookies that were on the field to see how much of an inspiration Brigginshaw is to the rugby league community.

“I looked around at some of the rookies today and they were cherishing playing with Ali,” she said in the post-game press conference.

“Some of us older girls were brought through under Ali - she has her fingerprints all over the Broncos ... she will always be in and around the club, I’m sure.”

Brigginshaw hopes to work in the NRLW landscape in some capacity but for now, with her career officially over, she plans to have a relaxing holiday.

She will have to pay a $400 fine for dangerous contact on the legs of Aiken when she tried to charge down a kick in the first half.