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The Sydney Roosters face the Brisbane Broncos in Sunday's NRLW grand final at 4pm AEDT, with Ali Brigginshaw, Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter playing their final games.
The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos will contest the NRLW Grand Final on Sunday at 4pm AEDT, with the match serving as the farewell game for three legends: Ali Brigginshaw of the Broncos and Roosters forwards Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter.
It is the fourth time in nine NRLW seasons that the Roosters and Broncos have met on grand final day. The match headlines a huge day of rugby league in Sydney, with the State Championship first, followed by the women's decider and then the men's grand final between the Knights and Roosters at 7:30pm AEDT. The defending premiers, the Roosters, have had a difficult path to the decider.
Ali Brigginshaw Ends Illustrious Career
They lost Ali Brigginshaw to suspension and endured a concerning form slump before finding their best at the right time of the year. They will be seeking revenge for last year's grand final loss to the Broncos. Ali Brigginshaw plays her final NRLW game for the Broncos on Sunday, marking the end of an illustrious career. She enters her fourth grand final with the fourth-most appearances in NRLW history and second-most for the Broncos.
A former Dally M Player of the Year and Halfback of the Year, Brigginshaw has won four Women's State of Origin series with Queensland, captaining a historic 12 games. She has also won all three World Cups she has been involved in and was crowned player of the match in her past two finals. Her coach praised her unselfish nature, noting that she stood down from the captaincy to allow the next generation to step up.
The coach also highlighted her leadership, pointing out that the Broncos suffered three losses when she was absent, and her impact in keeping the team together. Off the field, she is known for turning up at junior league clubs to help out. Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter will leave a large leadership void in the Roosters' pack. Elliott faces the club she started her career at, having debuted for the Broncos in 2019 before moving to the Roosters.
Roosters Legends Leave Leadership Void
She has won four grand finals across three teams, also playing for Newcastle, and is the only NRLW player to win a competition with three different clubs. Baxter has been a permanent fixture of the Roosters' line-up since debuting in 2019 and captained the club to their maiden premiership in 2021. The coach described Elliott as a great competitor with a massive work rate, both on and off the field, and a great leader who leads by example.
Baxter was praised as a great person in women's rugby league who is also involved in coaching. Both will be greatly missed. Fresh off winning her third Dally M medal, Tamika Upton will look to break new ground on Sunday. The Broncos superstar became the first NRLW player to win five premierships last year and will now play in a record sixth decider.
Upton has a perfect record in all five grand finals, winning three with the Broncos and two with the Knights. She has scored in her past four grand finals, with her five tries being the most by any NRLW player. The coach attributed her success to her ability to get herself in positions to get the footy, see things, take advantage, and play a fast, off-the-cuff style.
Tamika Upton Breaks NRLW Records
The numbers support this: Upton recorded the second-most try involvements in the NRLW this season, only behind Tarryn Aiken. It is her second consecutive season with at least 15 tries and try assists, a feat no other player has achieved with double figures in both categories in a season. The coach declared her the smartest female rugby league player ever seen.
Later, a tribute to Jai Arrow will be held before the NRL decider between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights. The day promises to be an explosive and scintillating end to both the NRL and NRLW seasons, with the grand final day showcasing the best of rugby league at all levels.
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abcnews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
NRLW Grand Final Sydney Roosters Brisbane Broncos Ali Brigginshaw Millie Elliott Corban Baxter Tamika Upton
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