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The Sydney Roosters face the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW grand final at Accor Stadium, with the Roosters later meeting the Newcastle Knights in the NRL decider. The Redcliffe Dolphins beat the Penrith Panthers 68-14 in the State Championship.
The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos meet in the NRLW grand final at 4pm AEDT at Accor Stadium, the fourth time in nine NRLW seasons the two clubs have contested the decider.
Later, the Sydney Roosters face the Newcastle Knights in the NRL grand final from 7.30pm AEDT. Gates opened at 1pm, with the State Championship decider first on the schedule. The Redcliffe Dolphins hammered the Penrith Panthers 68-14, with five-eighth Jake Averillo having a day out with three tries, three line breaks and two try assists.
The Panthers are Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup champions, but there will be no repeat of 2022, when they won Flegg, Cup, State Championship and the NRL premiership. Dolphins led 40-4 at the break and added more in the second half. After today, the Roosters or Broncos will have won seven of the nine NRLW premierships awarded. Only counting players who played in previous grand finals, Tamika Upton is hoping to become the most decorated champion with her sixth premiership.
Chasing fifth premiership titles
Upton won with the Broncos in 2019 and 2020, then back-to-back titles with Newcastle in 2022 and 2023, before returning to Brisbane to win her fifth last year. Ali Brigginshaw, Julia Robinson and Chelsea Lenarduzzi, known as the OGs, are all chasing their fifth title with the Broncos. Millie Elliott is aiming for her second title with the Roosters and fifth overall with her third club, having also won with the Broncos and Knights.
Former Broncos premiership winners Tarryn Aiken and Amber Hall are shooting for their fourth grand final wins after victories in 2019, 2020 and 2024. Roosters stalwarts Isabelle Kelly, Jess Sergis, Brydie Parker, Jayme Fressard, Olivia Kernick and Jocelyn Kelleher, plus former Knights Jesse Southwell, Romy Teitzel and Jasmin Strange, are going for number three.
Broncos Shannon Mato, Kerri Johnson, Brianna Clark, Lauren Dam and Jada Ferguson, along with Roosters Corban Baxter, Rima Butler, Keeley Nizza and Otesa Pule, are looking to double up today. Three icons of Australian rugby league are playing their final games today. Only one NRLW grand final, in 2023, has been played without at least one of Ali Brigginshaw, Millie Elliott or Corban Baxter playing.
Jai Arrow tribute before decider
Today they are all in action for just the second time on grand final day for one last ride before retirement. Before the NRL decider, a tribute to Jai Arrow will be held, with the NRL and various Australian artists performing You'll Never Walk Alone as he does a lap of the stadium. The Knights are the fairytale story of the season, having scored three upset wins during the finals series.
The Roosters are favourites to lift the Provan-Summons Trophy and win their 16th first grade premiership, and a fourth for coach Trent Robinson. We might be in Sydney, but Knights fans are expected to outnumber their Roosters counterparts today, with a healthy dose already around the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. It's a glorious spring afternoon, and they're soaking up the atmosphere outside.
ABC's Victoria Pengilley spoke to some of them, and the general message is a feeling of pride and confidence they can get the job done. Plenty of Roosters fans gathered in their heartland at Bondi Beach this morning, gearing up to see the men's and women's sides in their respective deciders. ABC Sport's Pokuah Frimpong spoke with some of the tricolours faithful, including a supporter who travelled from Brisbane and is desperately searching for a ticket.
Roosters fans honour father legacy
She said she had been trying since Monday and had unfortunately missed out, but had not lost faith with a couple of hours to go. She travelled down from Brisbane because her father passed away 15 years ago and she wanted to honour his legacy as a diehard Roosters fan. She said she was going around with his urn, taking pictures of him everywhere around all the Sydney Roosters stuff.
Another supporter said he supported the Chooks when he was nine years old, the Eastern Suburbs kit was the same kit he wore as a junior, and he has been a Chook fan ever since. He pays every year for a membership for a club he very rarely gets to watch live, but said that is what you do supporting your club. When he does see them live, his usual get-up includes an inflatable Rooster.
The Roosters NRL side is: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Billy Smith, 4 Robert Toia, 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6 Daly Cherry-Evans, 7 Sam Walker, 8 Naufahu Whyte, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Lindsay Collins, 11 Salesi Foketi, 12 Siua Wong, 13 Victor Radley, 15 Angus Crichton, 16 Nat Butcher, 17 Spencer Leniu, 18 Hugo Savala, 19 Cody Ramsey, 20 Benaiah Ioelu.
The Knights NRL side is: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Dominic Young, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Greg Marzhew, 6 Fletcher Sharpe, 7 Sandon Smith, 8 Tyson Frizell, 14 Harrison Graham, 10 Cody Hopwood, 11 Jermaine McEwen, 12 Francis Manuleleua, 13 Mathew Croker, 15 Lachlan Crouch, 16 Pasami Saulo, 17 Dylan Lucas, 18 Fletcher Hunt, 19 Thomas Cant, 20 Kyle McCarthy.
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abcnews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
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