Battle of thrills: Awesome foursome take centre stage

Author: Colleen Edwards NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 3 Oct 2025, 12:00 PM

Four world-class talents will take ‘centre stage’ on Sunday, with this year’s Dally M centres of the year winners and international stars going head-to-head in what looms as a key battle ground.

Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly and gun winger-turned-centre Julia Robinson were both honoured in the 2025 NRLW Dally M Team of the Year and will face off on the team sheet, with fellow Jillaroos star Jess Sergis to take on Kiwis enforcer Mele Hufanga.

Mele Hufanga is preparing for her first NRLW grand final. ©Scott Davis / NRL Images

“I think it's going to be a good battle between us four as the centres, but I feel like for myself, as long as I do my job, then I should be (okay),” Hufanga – who is preparing for her first NRLW grand final – said of the match-ups.

“Doing our job (as part of Brisbane's back five) is making sure we get out of our territory or get out of our red zone, helping out the forwards.

“Not only that, but also our kick-chase as well, making sure it's solid, making it easier (for the team) and just whatever we do around the field; making it easier for our forwards and for ourselves as well.”

Hufanga, who made her NRLW debut in 2023 - also against the Roosters - will be marking up against Tricolours mainstay Sergis, who registered a try assist and 147 run metres the last time the two sides met in Round 3.

Jess Sergis is a key performer for the Roosters. ©Gregg Porteous / NRL Images

A powerful runner, Hufanga praised the performances of her team-mate Robinson this season for her transition into her new position, which was initially brought about through injury to Shenae Ciesiolka.

Robinson claimed a place on the wing in last season's NRLW Dally M Team of the Year, before backing that up by being named in the 2025 team earlier this week in a feat that has never been replicated.

Her figures in her 11 games so far have been too good to ignore and include nine tries, 2487 run metres, 820 post-contact metres, 85 tackle breaks and 14 line breaks.

Robinson was just pipped by team-mate Tamika Upton (35 points) for the overall Dally M Medal honour, finishing with 32 points, with Kelly close behind in fourth place on 29 points.

“I'm so lucky she’s on my team; it's really awesome,” Hufanga said.

“I feel really lucky that I get to rub shoulders with Robbo, so it's cool.”

Julia Robinson in action for Brisbane. ©Anthony Kourambanas / NRL Images

After being told by coach Scott Prince at the start of the season that she’d be moving in closer to the action, Robinson said she set herself a challenge to become one of the best in the position and was relishing the chance to face off against her Jillaroos team-mate Kelly.

“I have been loving this year, it's been a challenge for myself being in the centres and I am loving it," Robinson said.

“Next up will be a good challenge; I'll be up against Issy and she's one of the players I look up to as well, so it will be a good battle, I can’t wait.

“It was a bit of a shock when Princey told me I'll be starting at centre, I felt like I didn't really train all pre-season for it; I was still training as a winger.

“But when he told me that, I just told myself I want to own it, it will be a good challenge for myself.

"I kind of used a bit of a challenge and I wanted to try and be the best centre in the comp, so I used that mentality to just go out there, do my best and I have been loving it.”

Isabelle Kelly leads out the Roosters. ©Gregg Porteous / NRL Images

Kelly, who also claimed Captain of the Year honours at Wednesday night's awards, said she and Sergis would be out to nullify the threat of their opposing centres.

“World class centres, obviously Robbo's gone from the win to the centre and she's been doing a really great job there ... we’ve played at Jillaroos and she’s been my winger a lot, but Robbo is an athlete," Kelly said.

“I think as soon as you look at her, you can see how strong and athletic she is, and I think she's done a really great job in the centres.

"She's someone that's always willing to learn when I've been with her in Jillaroos.

“I'm not sure what the thought process was behind the Broncos doing that, but I think it's been a great fit for them."

However, while fans will be expecting plenty of points to come from the talented quartet on Sunday, Kelly said a key focus for her side in their quest for back-to-back premierships would be to lock down the middle of the field.

“Honestly across their whole team, they've got a lot of strike,” Kelly said.

“Everyone's going to have to be on red alert with that within our team.