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2021 NRLW PREMIERS

After two agonising Grand Final defeats, the Sydney Roosters 2021 NRLW squad completed one of the greatest turnarounds in the Club's history to claim their inaugural title in emphatic circumstances.

Sydney Roosters 2021 NRLW Premiers Team Photo
Sydney Roosters 2021 NRLW Premiers Team Photo

Back Row: Simone Karpani, Sarah Togatuki, Keilee Joseph, Olivia Higgins, Taylor Adeline-Mapusua (Reserve)

Middle Row: Joeli Morris, Leianne Tufuga, Samantha Economos (Reserve), Otesa Pule (Reserve), Olivia Kernick, Tayla Predebon, Mya Hill-Moana, Kalosipani Hopoate (Reserve), Lauretta Leao-Seve (Reserve), Jocelyn Kelleher

Front Row: Shawden Burton (Reserve), Raecene McGregor, Yasmin Clydsdale (née Meakes), Jessica Sergis, Hannah Southwell, John Strange (Coach), Corban Baxter (née McGregor), (Captain), Isabelle Kelly, Zahara Temara, Chante Temara (Reserve), Taneka Todhunter (Reserve)

Absent: Brydie Parker

 

With the competition expanding to six teams in its fourth season, the Tricolours suffered a hefty player turnover, with incoming Head Coach John Strange enlisting a number of young players from his Central Coast Roosters outfit, who would ultimately prove to be pivotal to the side's success. 

NRLW 2021 Grand Final Highlights: Roosters vs Dragons

The young contingent included ten players on debut in the NRLW, and a further two making their first appearances in Red, White and Blue in the opening round of the competition, including star signing and strike centre Jessica Sergis.

While the Tricolours tasted defeat against the three-time reigning Premiers in the Brisbane Broncos, the seeds of a successful campaign had been planted with the introduction of a number of up and coming superstars. 

A disappointing trip to Wollongong to take on newcomers the Gold Coast Titans was remedied with the return of Captain Corban Baxter in Round 3 following a fortnight battling covid-19, and her impact upon return was immediate.

Channelling the performances of the legendary Roosters sides of old, the Red, White and Blue powered through to a 28-12 win against the Newcastle Knights at the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground to open their account for the 2021 season. 

Kelly: "I'm So Overcome With Emotion"

They backed up their effort against the highly-favoured Parramatta Eels in Newcastle the following week with a nail-biting 19-18 victory thanks to a Zahara Temara field goal, with spirits high heading into the final round of the regular season. 

A hard-fought battle against eventual Grand Final opponents St George Illawarra saw the side waiting on results to determine their fate, and the Rugby League gods smiled upon them as the Broncos took down Parramatta by 20 points to give them a finals berth.

Ironically their semi-final would come up against the very side that propelled them into the playoffs, and in one of the most extraordinary comebacks of all time, the Roosters overcame a 16-nil deficit in the first half against their highly-favoured opponents to complete a remarkable 22-16 victory en route to the decider. 

Baxter & Strange Post Match Grand Final

Travelling to Redcliffe for the Grand Final against the Dragons, the Roosters once again overcame an early 4-nil deficit to storm home, with experienced campaigners Yasmin Meakes and Isabelle Kelly touching down in the second half, before rookie Olivia Higgins sealed the result with a solo effort with minutes to spare. 

Debutant Joeli Morris emulated the efforts of John Rheinberger in the 1975 Grand Final by making her first-grade debut mid-match as a replacement, while front rower Sarah Togatuki graciously accepted the Karyn Murphy Medal as player of the match with a barnstorming performance.

Captain Corban Baxter celebrated her 28th birthday in the best possible fashion, holding the Premiership Trophy aloft as the Club claimed its inaugural NRLW title.  

Sarah Togatuki Claims Karyn Murphy Medal

 

2021 NRLW Season Details

 

2021 Player Details /

Player
No.
Player Age Games Tries Goals Field
Goals
Points
22 Corban Baxter 28 5        
50 Shawden Burton 22 2        
55 Samantha Economos 28 1        
47 Olivia Higgins 29 7 1     4
54 Mya Hill-Moana 19 6 1     4
51 Keilee Joseph 20 6 2     8
53 Simon Karpani 24 6        
41 Jocelyn Kelleher 22 7 1     4
4 Isabelle Kelly 25 7 4     16
49 Olivia Kernick 21 7 3     12
52 Raecene McGregor 24 7        
46 Taylor Adeline-Mapusua 23 2        
36 Yasmin Meakes 28 7 1     4
56 Joeli Morris 20 1        
20 Brydie Parker 22 7 3     12
48 Tayla Predebon 21 7        
45 Jessica Sergis 24 6 1     4
27 Hannah Southwell 23 7   3   6
13 Zahara Temara 24 7   10 1 21
15 Sarah Togatuki 24 7 3     12
44 Leianne Tufuga 20 7 2     8
Total Players: 21
Total Games: 7
Total Tries: 13
Total Points: 115
Youngest Player: Mya Hill-Moana (19)
Oldest Player: Olivia Higgins (29)

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Emma Tonegato
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Corban Baxter
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Teagan Berry
    Winger for Roosters is number 2 Leianne Tufuga
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Jaime Chapman
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Jessica Sergis
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Page McGregor
    Centre for Roosters is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Madison Bartlett
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Brydie Parker
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Zahara Temara
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Rachael Pearson
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Raecene McGregor

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Elsie Albert
    Prop for Roosters is number 8 Sarah Togatuki
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Keeley Davis
    Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Olivia Higgins
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Kezie Apps
    Prop for Roosters is number 10 Mya Hill-Moana
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Talei Holmes
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Yasmin Clydsdale
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Shaylee Bent
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Olivia Kernick
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Holli Wheeler
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Hannah Southwell

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Quincy Dodd
    Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Jocelyn Kelleher
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Kody House
    Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Keilee Joseph
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Renee Targett
    Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Tayla Predebon
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Keele Browne
    Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Simone Karpani

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 21 Aliti Namoce
  • Reserve for Roosters is number 18 Joeli Morris

Match Officials

  • Referee: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

 

2021 NRLW Awards

 

Steggles Members' Try of the Year: Isabelle Kelly

Community Award: Jocelyn Kelleher

Rookie of the Year: Olivia Kernick 

Players' Player: Sarah Togatuki

Player of the Year: Isabelle Kelly

 

NRLW Round 1 Match Highlights: Roosters vs Broncos

NRLW Round 2 Highlights: Roosters vs Titans

NRLW Round 3 Highlights: Roosters vs Knights

NRLW Round 4 Highlights: Roosters vs Eels

NRLW Round 5 Highlights: Roosters vs Dragons

NRLW 2021 Semi-Final Highlights: Roosters vs Broncos

NRLW 2021 Grand Final Highlights: Roosters vs Dragons

Acknowledgement of Country

Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.