Roosters Beat Broncos 30-6 to Win NRLW Grand Final and Avenge 2025 Loss
The undefeated Roosters turned last year's heartbreak into a rout, beating the defending champion Broncos 30-6 in the NRLW grand final at Sydney Olympic Park.
The Roosters have won the NRLW premiership, flipping the script on the Broncos 12 months after losing last year's decider to them. The 30-6 win in Sydney was one-sided.
How the grand final unfolded
The Roosters, led by captain Isabelle Kelly, dominated early and went to the break 26-0 up. SBS described their defence as relentless, and the Brisbane Times said the Broncos were embarrassed.
Brydie Parker scored three tries. Late in the game the Broncos finally got on the board, with a try to halfback Southwell, according to the Brisbane Times.
The Brisbane Times said the margin equalled the biggest winning margin in an NRL grand final. It added that predictions of another close contest "fell flat".
Brigginshaw's farewell
Ali Brigginshaw, 36, finished her career in the loss. The Brisbane Times says she was the first player signed by the Broncos in the league's inaugural season, captained the club to four premierships and was the first NRLW player to reach 50 games.
She had been chasing a fifth title. The Broncos named an unchanged side from their preliminary final win over the Titans.
"The Roosters played to perfection and they've had a great year and I'm just really proud of the girls," she told Nine. She also said the Roosters "had most of the ball the first half, and you can't win football games without the footy."
Roosters player Corban Baxter is also retiring, and SBS reports prop Millie Elliott will leave the game with a premiership too.
A perfect season for the Roosters
SBS reports the Roosters went through 2026 undefeated, winning all 11 matches. The Broncos finished third on the ladder after losing three straight games mid-season.
Before the game, Jayme Fressard was cleared to play after a shoulder injury in the preliminary final. Tarryn Aiken and Taina Naividi returned to play big roles after missing last year's decider with torn ACLs, according to NRL.com.
The Brisbane Times said the result adds to questions about the competition's balance. Critics argue the Roosters and Broncos are too far ahead of the rest of the league, and Sunday's game suggested the league "still doesn't have it quite right".
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What happens next
The Roosters' men's team plays the Newcastle Knights in the NRL grand final at Stadium Australia on Sunday night, with a 7.30pm AEST start, according to SBS. A Roosters win would give the club both premierships in the same year.
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