Revenge for Roosters as star duo sent out NRLW winners

Joel Gould and Annabelle Banfield | October 4, 2026

Sydney Roosters have given retiring legends Corban Baxter and Millie Elliott the perfect send-off and extracted the ultimate revenge on Brisbane with a 30-6 thrashing of the defending premiers in the NRLW grand final.

Roosters halves Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken had blinders at Accor Stadium on Sunday as winger Brydie Parker scored a hat-trick in what was the equal biggest winning margin in an NRLW decider.

This was a footballing lesson in power, precision and skill and the Roosters, undefeated in 2026, deserved their third premiership and were clearly the best side in the competition.

Last year the Tricolours were unbeaten until the decider, which the Broncos won 22-18 with a late and controversial try.

There was no heartache this time as the John Strange-coached side dominated from the start.

Four-time premiership winners Brisbane, who had not previously lost a decider, bumbled and fumbled their way through the match in a sad end to the stellar club career of retiring great Ali Brigginshaw.

Roosters prop Elliott has now won five titles with three different clubs and will join fullback Baxter, now with two premierships, in NRLW retirement.

The Roosters scored six tries to  lead 26-0 at halftime, the largest advantage in history in an NRLW decider, to blow the Broncos off the park.

Five-eighth Kelleher, who had worn the No.7 in last year’s decider,  had blamed herself for the late Broncos try that secured them the 2025 grand final but she more than atoned.

Her towering bombs gave the Broncos’ back five nightmares all match.

Aiken missed last year’s decider with an ACL rupture but took control with her elite skillset to score a try and set up two others in the opening half.

The Roosters played ad-lib footy on the final tackle and Kelleher conjured an inch-perfect cross-field kick for winger Parker to score the opening try.

Aiken regained her own short kick after a ricochet to make it 10-0 after 17 minutes.

A scintillating scrum move with Kelleher, Baxter and Aiken all involved put captain Isabelle Kelly in. Aiken’s next bomb was bungled by the Broncos and Jayme Fressard swooped.

Aiken and Kelly sent Parker in for her second, barnstorming prop Amber Hall crashed over and by halftime the game was in the bag.