NRLW finals: The unique superpower which sets Jocelyn Kelleher apart

The Sydney Roosters have the only halfback in the NRLW preliminary finals who doesn’t wear the No. 7 jersey every week. Yet, she believes that gives her an edge in the NRLW premiership race.

She’s the only halfback left in the NRLW finals not to wear the No. 7 on a weekly basis, but Sydney Roosters dynamo Jocelyn Kelleher believes that could be her superpower.

Brisbane skipper Ali Brigginshaw and young guns Jesse Southwell (Newcastle) and Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Cronulla) are three of the best halfbacks in the competition, but Kelleher’s advantage is she can do it all.

Coming into the NRLW preliminary finals, all four halfbacks have a different path to the top.

Brigginshaw has led the Broncos to second on the ladder, while Southwell is aiming for her third premiership with the Knights and Kiria-Ratu her first in her debut season with the Sharks.

For Kelleher, the No. 7 job has sprung out of necessity amid an undefeated season for the premiership favourites.

Named to replace Jillaroos star Tarryn Aiken who has suffered a ruptured ACL in the last round of the season, Kelleher will play her 50th NRLW game in Saturday’s preliminary final clash against the Sharks with the knowledge of every position on the field.

“Joce is incredible, she’s 50 games this weekend and she’s definitely underrated in the competition and this weekend she’s getting the flowers she deserves and is still underrated,” said Roosters teammate Keeley Davis.

“I think the way she understands footy is great but she’s very selfless to be able to slot into so many positions without hesitation. It takes a lot to learn that at training.

“She hasn’t been named in every position, but at some point she’s played every position, including front rower.

“It’s a credit to how versatile she is, and how hard she works.”

It’s all in a days work for a student of the game.

The Central Coast product works as a development officer with the NRL and then comes home and dives into study of the game.

Across her 49-game career she’s played everywhere.

“I like a lot of positions to be honest but having the knowledge behind all the positions helps me as a half because I know the thought process behind things, the reasons why it’s done, because I’ve been there and I can understand,” she said.

Jocelyn Kelleher.

“I try and use that to my advantage. When I’m seven calling plays, I understand where everyone is going to be, what they’re going to do and their thought process.

“I love being a half, I love hooker as well.

“I’m addicted to rugby league, I love it, I do it as a job, I go home, watch the footy at night.

“(My biggest interest is) how the halves play, who they’re getting to, how they’re passing, things like that.”

But filling in for Aiken in a sudden-death final comes with high pressure.

“Tarryn has played really good the last couple of games she’s played this season,” Kelleher said.

“She’s amazing, she gets through the smallest little holes and so I’ve been watching her really closely this season and hopefully if I can live up to half of her potential.”