NRLW grand final 2024: Sydney Roosters beat Cronulla Sharks – live reaction

NRLW grand final 2024: Sydney Roosters beat Cronulla Sharks – live reaction

Key events

Tiana Penitani takes the stage to give her runners’ up speech.

“Look how far how game has come in the last how many years. The game is in the best place it’s ever been. I’m so proud to be part of this game…I want to thank Strangy, Izzy and the Roosters. You guys have been placed the benchmark all season. So many of you as individuals are changing this game and aspiring a new generation. And lastly, to my staff, Tony, Herman, Crossy, Isaac, all of our staff, the club, thank you so much for believing in us. And giving us all the opportunities that we have. I’m so proud. And to my girls, everyone wrote us off. We had absolutely no right to come back in that second-half. I’m so proud of the season that we’ve had. So proud of you girls. I wouldn’t want to win or lose with any other team of girls. I love you guys. Congrats Chooks.”

Karyn Murphy Medallist: Tarryn Aiken

Aiken controlled the game this afternoon, so no surprise that she comes away with the player of the match medal. She looks a little surprised as she comes up to receive it though! She keeps her speech short and sweet.

“I’d like to say I’m honoured to receive this award named after Murph. I’d like to say thank you to Sharky girls. You were unreal today. You had incredible season…to my girls I couldn’t ask for better teammates. So glad to get it done. Thank you.”

I don’t feel like words can do justice to this Johnston try, so it’s definitely one worth watching if you didn’t get a chance to see it happen!

Emma Tonegato is disappointed that the Sharks couldn’t finish with the premiership, but she’s proud of the effort they put in.

“It’s hard to come back with a deficit like that that and to get that close. So proud of the girls. Congratulations to the Roosters. They’ve been a great team all year. Well-deserved for them. Couldn’t be prouder of my Sharkies.”

Full-time: Roosters 32-28 Sharks

The Sharks threw everything at that final set after deciding not to take the conversion attempt, but the Roosters held them out to take the win by four points. Tiana Davison pounced on a loose ball from an offload attempt to seal the premiership for the Roosters.

TRY! Roosters 32-28 Sharks (Penitani, 68)

Desperation gets them over the line, after a six again call on the last tackle and the captain makes the dive over the line. They’ve given up their conversion attempt for another go at the try line.

68 mins: The Sharks are seeing this match slip away now, after giving themselves some hope to cling to with a sensational second half performance. They put up a short kick off an get an attacking set to give themselves a chance.

GOAL! Roosters 32-24 Sharks

The extra two points provides an important buffer with less than three minutes left on the clock.

TRY! Roosters 30-24 Sharks (Kernick, 66)

A frenetic finish to the Roosters’ set, putting the ball through hands on the fifth, with Hall making a break, getting the ball away to Aiken and a desperate play for the line. The Sharks got a hand on it before it went dead, so the Roosters get another set. Hall goes close to the line, but is held out, before Kernick throws a sensational dummy that fools everyone and goes over for the Roosters’ first try this half.

64 mins: The Sharks are on the front foot and what a comeback this has been! Preston puts up a big kick to finish the set, but it’s too big and goes dead in goal for a Roosters’ seven tackle set, releasing all the pressure the Sharks were building.

GOAL! Roosters 26-24 Sharks

Another simple shot for Preston and she makes no mistake.

TRY! Roosters 26-22 Sharks (Johnston, 61)

The Roosters are ruled to knock the ball on. They challenge, but there’s no evidence to support overruling the on field decision. The Sharks get another chance close to the line and Johnston makes a strong spin over the line.

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60 mins: The Sharks need to stand strong in defence now and they manage to do just that. With some good pressure on Kelleher’s kick, the ball goes dead in goal and the Sharks get a seven tackle set to try to close this gap even further.

58 mins: Wheeler looks like scoring, but Hall puts on a HUGE hit to put a stop to that. The Sharks can’t score, but an error from the Roosters soon after gives them the scrum feed and another set in good position. The Sharks get a penalty midway through the set, but the Roosters have put in a captain’s challenge. The challenge is successful and the Roosters get a scrum feed.

56 mins: An error in the play the ball from Parker gives the ball straight back to the Sharks – Parker loses her bearings and plays the ball sideways, which looks very strange! The Sharks get an opportunity to start a set within the Roosters’ half.

55 mins: Hall looks to spark something for the Roosters to bring them back into this game, and she makes a mini break through the middle, but the Sharks manage to bring her down. Kelleher puts up another excellent bomb, but Staples takes it so strongly and holds her ground right on the sideline. Preston puts in a brilliant searching kick to end their set, forcing the Roosters to start deep in their own territory.

PENALTY GOAL! Roosters 26-18 Sharks

Kelleher makes that kick look easy and gives the Roosters a little bit of breathing room as the Sharks keep coming at them.

52 mins: An exciting period of play has closed the gap between these teams – I would LOVE to know what was said the Sharks shed at half time. It must have been one hell of a speech to turn their game around. However an unnecessary penalty offers the Roosters a buffer and slows their momentum.

GOAL! Roosters 24-18 Sharks

Another accurate kick from Preston and this game is getting very exciting now!

TRY! Roosters 24-16 Sharks (Hannaway, 48)

Well, a very exciting set with lots of fast hands from the Sharks and attacking dominance from Tonegato sets up yet another try and Cronulla is right back in this game!

48 mins: A good kick from Preston ends the Sharks’ set and it almost looks like they may force a repeat set, but the experience of Bremner gets the Roosters out of trouble as she shadows the ball over the dead ball line and gets her side a seven tackle set. They make their way down the field, but Bremner can’t quite get her pass away and the knock on gives the Sharks a scrum feed.

46 mins: There is a lot more belief shining out of the Sharks now and they are looking much more dangerous. Tonegato makes another mini break and the Roosters are not looking quite so comfortable.

GOAL! Roosters 24-12 Sharks

An easy attempt for Preston and she nails it.

TRY! Roosters 24-10 Sharks (Dodd, 43)

A silly penalty from the Roosters – putting a hit on a player without the ball – gives the Sharks the field position they’ve been looking for. Tonegato is brilliant in finding the space, losing the defenders and putting in a deft little pass to Dodd who crosses the line.

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43 mins: The Roosters have been able to control the speed of the ruck and haven’t allowed the Sharks to get quick play the balls and that last set was no exception. The Roosters again drive down the field – there is no panic from them yet, despite the Sharks hitting the scoreboard. Kelleher puts up another great kick, but Ravics is up to the challenge.

41 mins: The Sharks look up and about after scoring, but a silly error in the play the ball hands the ball back to the Roosters deep in Sharks’ territory. Tonegato puts strong pressure on and forces a rare error from Aiken and the Sharks get back on the attack.

GOAL! Roosters 24-6 Sharks

Preston’s kick looks great, hits the upright and bounces back over the post to add the two points.

TRY! Roosters 24-4 Sharks (Penitani, 38)

The Sharks get a penalty early in the set, to give them some much-needed field position. Penitani gets within a couple of metres of the tryline before the Sharks nearly cough the ball up, but recover to make another run at the line and on her second attempt, Penitani is able to use her footwork to step around the defence and score.

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37 mins: The Sharks have a bit of spark in their first set of the second half, powering down the field to be able to put in an attacking kick, but Bremner fields it to keep them off the scoreboard. The Roosters play a conservative set, keeping the pressure on.

The Roosters kick off and here we go!

The teams are getting back out on the field and the second half is almost underway. Can the Sharks bring things back, or are we in for more Roosters dominance?

And this Jess Sergis special on the stroke of half time tore out the last shreds of hope from hearts all over Cronulla.

This try from Parker epitomised the Sharks’ defensive woes.

There was a LOT going on in that half, so let’s re-live some of those tries. First up, we had Dally M winner Kernick getting things underway for the Roosters.

Half-time: Roosters 24-0 Sharks

Well, what a half! I can safely say that was not what I was expecting leading into the game, or even after the first few minutes. The Roosters have been absolutely dominant and the Sharks do not seem to have any answers to their attack. There will be some tough conversations had in the sheds for them and teams have certainly turned scores like this around in the past, but it will take a lot to really dig deep and find massive improvements in attack and defence. The Roosters will be delighted with their first half, but they are not a team to rest on their laurels. They’ll be pushing for more points in the second half and the Sharks will have a fight on their hands.

Sydney Roosters have opened up a commanding lead in the first half of the 2024 NRLW grand final. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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GOAL! Roosters 24-0 Sharks

Finally Kelleher gets a shot in front and she easily knocks it over.

TRY! Roosters 22-0 Sharks (Sergis, 35)

On the stroke of half-time, the Roosters can’t resist adding more points – this time it’s Sergis with a strong run after a fifth tackle pass.

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34 mins: A good, pressure-building set from the Roosters is followed by another attempt by the Sharks to get down the field, but they can’t get themselves into position to score and it looks like they may have to head to the sheds scoreless.

32 mins: Finally something falls the Sharks’ way, with Preston’s kick bouncing in the in goal and brushing Bremner’s hand before going dead in goal. The Sharks are in the best attacking position they’ve had in quite some time and they’re desperate for some points. Tonegato tries her best to set something up, but Staples can’t hold it and it’s back to the Roosters.

30 mins: Again Kelleher can’t add the two points – her team really needs to give her a break and stop scoring in the corner. In all seriousness, the Roosters have been basically flawless, playing beautiful rugby league and there’s not much the Sharks can do to stop them right now. Even when they get a set, every metre is a struggle through the tough Roosters’ defence.

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