Full Breakdown
2026 NRLW Grand Final: Roosters vs. Broncos Marks the End of an Era
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Grand Final Showdown on October 4
The 2026 National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) grand final pits the undefeated Sydney Roosters against the Brisbane Broncos at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday, October 4, the first day of daylight-saving time. It is a rematch of the 2025 final, which the Broncos won 22-18 after a controversial try.
Background & Context
Last season’s final ended in a “spiteful” encounter that left both clubs eager for redemption. The Roosters entered 2026 with a dominant record, losing only one match in more than two years. The weekend also marks the final NRLW appearances for several pioneers: Brisbane’s five-eighth Ali Brigginshaw, Roosters fullback Corban Baxter and forward Millie Elliott, all of whom announced retirement after the game.
Data & Statistics
- Sydney Roosters: 11 wins in the home-and-away season, unbeaten; 30 wins from their last 31 starts (source 3).
- Brisbane Broncos: Finished third with an 8-3 regular-season record; a three-game losing streak mid-season was followed by five straight victories, including a 20-8 preliminary-final win over the Gold Coast Titans.
- Key Players: Tarryn Aiken leads the league in line-break assists; Tamika Upton captured the Dally M women’s player of the year award; Jesse Southwell, 21, with 53 NRLW matches, joins the Broncos’ halves.
Official Statements & Responses
Roosters coach John Strange highlighted the return of Aiken and praised five-eighth Jocelyn Kelleher for her State of Origin experience, noting that confidence from representative selection “takes you to another level.” Broncos coach Scott Prince lauded Brigginshaw as “a special person” whose legacy warrants an award named in her honor.
Isabelle Kelly, Roosters captain, said the team’s aggression “helps us, to be honest.”
On-the-Ground Reports
The pre-grand-final press conference drew roughly 300 attendees at Martin Place, with the city’s clock tower bells ringing as Brigginshaw answered whether she would play again.
- “My mum has moved in with me to be able to help me get back to footy and support me through all of it,” — Millie Elliott
- “She’s a pretty quiet sort of person off the field, but on the field she’s very vocal as a real leader,” — John Strange
- “It is kind of frustrating how people forget how many we lost,” — Ali Brigginshaw
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the Roosters’ win-loss tally: one cites an unbeaten 11-match regular season, another records 30 victories from the last 31 starts, suggesting inclusion of preseason or finals matches. No source provides a definitive schedule for post-grand-final initiatives such as the appointment of a head of women’s football under the $5.3 billion broadcast deal announced earlier in the year.
What’s Next
Following the grand final, the NRLW will lose three of its most recognizable players, prompting clubs to accelerate talent development pipelines. The Australian Rugby League Commission’s newly appointed executive chair Peter V’landys has been urged to create a dedicated head of women’s football, a move expected to shape the competition’s direction independent of the men’s league.
The outcome of the October 4 showdown will decide the 2026 premiership and signal how the league navigates a transitional period marked by retirements, emerging talent, and evolving governance structures.
