NRLW grand final 2024: Sydney Roosters 32 d. Cronulla Sharks 28
The Sharks mounted a second-half comeback for the ages but it wasn’t enough to topple the Roosters, who have capped off a dominant NRLW season and sent off women’s footy pioneer Sam Bremner into retirement a winner.
NRLW pioneer Sam Bremner has completed her glittering resume after leading Sydney Roosters to a dramatic 32-28 premiership win over Cronulla on Sunday.
The Sharks almost pulled off one of the greatest comebacks of all time after trailing 24-0 at halftime but it wasn’t to be.
And for Bremner it was gold.
The 32-year-old was plucked out of retirement as injury cover on the eve of the season but showed she’s a class above to help guide the Roosters to their second NRLW premiership.
It was the final thing to tick off her long list of achievements, which includes three World Cup wins with the Jillaroos and NSW Origin glory.
“The ring is awesome, and the trophy is great but it’s been the season itself and particularly this week has gone straight to the top,” Bremner said when asked about where the achievement ranks.
This club, the players, the coaching staff have been so accommodating and flexible with my circumstances around my family, that the week itself is the top.
“I love the ring, I love that we won, but winning is the cherry on top.”
The Roosters just went the long way about it.
After a clinical first half they let the Sharks back in with four straight tries before Dally M Medallist Olivia Kernick put the result to bed in the dying minutes with her second try of the day.
SHARKS ON THE RISE
Heading into the game no one in the Sharks side had won an NRLW premiership and they went agonisingly close.
“I’m so proud of the effort in the second half,” said Sharks captain Tiana Penitani.
“To look at our team compared to theirs for grand final experience, I’m proud of them.”
It could have been all over at halftime.
After trailing 24-0 they pulled off one of the all time comebacks to score four tries in 24 minutes through Tiana Penitani, Quincy Dodd, Georgia Hannaway, and Ellie Johnston.
Perfect conversions by Tayla Preston helped narrow the gap, while a second try to Penitani in the final minute brought the result dangerously close.
Trailing by just four points they waved away the conversion but couldn’t pull off a miracle.
But to make a grand final in just their second season in the NRLW is a miracle in itself, and the future is safe with stars Biddle and Johnston.
AWESOME FOURSOME
Roosters prop Millie Elliott etched her name into history as the second NRLW player to win four premierships.
Sunday’s win equals the record set by Newcastle fullback Tamika Upton, with Elliott claiming two with the Broncos in 2019 and 2020, as well as the 2022 title with the Knights.
It’s an incredible record for the inspirational Roosters prop who is still just 26.
BREMNER’S LAST DANCE
She’s now a champion.
Bremner made her return to the NRLW after announcing her retirement at the end of 2022 as a favour to coach John Strange.
Representative fullback Corban Baxter had just gone down with an ACL injury in the trials and there was only one player fit enough to play without doing a pre-season.
The win caps off a remarkable career for the mother of three.
She has led Australia to two World Cup wins, as well as State of Origin victories for NSW, but had never won a premiership. And it was the carrot that got her over the line for one final season.
“My wife, who is a bit of an expert on rugby league, she was adamant, and I haven’t told Sammy this, but she said you need to get Sammy Bremner back and you need to give her a call,” coach Strange said of his SOS call to Bremner ahead of round one.
“For me it was no question, I know what Sammy’s like, she’d been training and she’s a very fit person so it was more to get her connected with the new group of girls.”
Bremner finished the game with a try assist for one of Parker’s first half tries as well as some trysaving tackles.
GOLDEN GIRL
Olivia Kernick capped a special week with two grand final tries after winning the named the best player in the game on Wednesday night.
She went seriously close to winning the Karyn Murphy Medal for player of the match, with the honour going to halfback Tarryn Aiken instead.
Aiken was electric through the middle, setting up two tries and three linebreak assists amid a field of outstanding performances.
“It’s really special to win this medal, especially named after someone like Murph,” Aiken said.
“Nothing is more special than winning the premiership.”
BIDDLE V KELLY
It was the most anticipated match up of the grand final and it didn’t disappoint.
The clash of Annessa Biddle and Isabelle Kelly was like two rockets launched into a head on attack.
Earlier in the week the rising Sharks centre and 2023 rookie of the year laid out her intentions to take on the Australia and NSW champion.
And that’s exactly what she did.
The pair were two of the best on the field and clashed with the game in the balance late.
With four minutes to go and the Sharks defending on their line, Biddle denied Kelly what would have been a certain try to bat the ball dead under heavy traffic.
Originally published as NRLW grand final 2024: Sydney Roosters 32 d. Cronulla Sharks 28
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