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Roosters chase 100-year first and NRLW supremacy
George Clarke, AAP • October 5th, 2025 11:46 am
The Roosters are on the cusp of a rugby league feat that hasn't been achieved since 1925 | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The Sydney Roosters stand on the cusp of greatness as they look to topple Brisbane and announce themselves as NRLW heavyweights by achieving a feat not seen in top-flight Australian rugby league for 100 years.
Captain and strike centre Isabelle Kelly says the Roosters' emergence as a bona-fide premiership force is all down to the coaching of John Strange.
Under Strange, who led NSW to a women's State of Origin series win earlier this year, the Roosters have won the 2021 and 2024 premierships.
The Roosters and Broncos are ready to square off in the NRLW grand final | Photo: AAP
They won all 11 regular-season matches to claim this year's minor premiership then beat Cronulla in the finals.
Now only Brisbane on Sunday stand in the Roosters' way of completing a perfect season.
The 1925 South Sydney side are the only first grade team in the history of Australian rugby league to have a season of more than six games where they have won every fixture.
"(Strange) is a massive reason for our success within this club," Kelly said ahead of Sunday's grand final at Accor Stadium against the Broncos.
"The way he recruits and brings people in that might not be getting opportunities in other clubs but develops them.
"That's something that Strangey is incredible at doing.
"That's been a massive part of our success ... making sure that everyone's comfortable and feels at home here."
Isabelle Kelly has heaped praise on Roosters coach John Strange | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Victory over the Broncos would also mean the Roosters draw level with their opposition on three NRLW premierships.
Brisbane won three-straight titles following the competition's inception in 2018 but have been waiting five years to repeat it.
"It's going to be a really great game," Kelly said.
"We can go back to all those stats about us and the Broncos but I think when you go out there on grand final day, it just comes down to who wants to perform the best."
Those statistics Kelly refers to are how the Roosters ended the Broncos' title charge in 2021 after limping into the finals with a losing record.
They were 16-0 down to Brisbane in a semi-final before roaring back to qualify for the grand final.
Isabelle Kelly is determined to lead from the front in the NRLW grand final | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
In their five meetings since, the Roosters have won every game - including a 30-26 victory on the road earlier this year.
"That (2021 fixture) might be my favourite game ever, we were written off early in that season," said Roosters five-eighth Corban Baxter.
"The Broncos came out flying in that game, but we were able to turn it around and caused a massive upset.
"That's when we learned how to win, how to win tough games. We found some belief in that game."
