Sydney Roosters Advance to Third Straight NRLW Grand Final With Win Over Raiders

The undefeated Sydney Roosters beat the Canberra Raiders 20-10 in the NRLW preliminary final, advancing to their third consecutive grand final. Canberra stayed in contention after a controversial bunker decision denied a try to Lili Boyle, but Jess Sergis extended Sydney’s lead and Tarryn Aiken sealed the win late. The Roosters will face either the Gold Coast Titans or Brisbane Broncos in the decider, while the Raiders’ first finals campaign ended after a strong challenge to the competition’s unbeaten leaders.
The Roosters struck early: Jayme Fressard scored in the second minute on her return from an arm injury, and prop Rima Butler added another try after a penalty against Canberra fullback Sherridan Gallagher, giving Sydney a 10-0 lead.
Canberra’s Crystal Blackwell scored in the 32nd minute after briefly leaving the field with a nosebleed; after a head clash later left her jersey bloodied, she returned in a different numbered jersey.
The Roosters face a grand-final fitness concern: representative winger Jayme Fressard left with a shoulder injury and did not return in the second half, despite this being her first game back from an earlier hand injury.
Canberra reached the finals for the first time in club history, having earned its preliminary-final place by beating the Wests Tigers 6-0 in its first finals match, with Isabelle Waterman scoring the decisive try.
Publishers
13
Articles
205
Reach
218