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The Sydney Roosters booked their place in the NRLW grand final with a tense 20-10 victory over the Canberra Raiders at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night. This marks the Roosters' third consecutive appearance in the grand final, after winning the title in 2024 and narrowly losing to Brisbane in 2025. The match was characterized by physical play and controversy, with key moments including a bloodied face for Raiders player Krystal Blackwell and a hair-pulling incident involving Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly. Despite early dominance, the Roosters faced a comeback attempt from the Raiders but secured their spot when halfback Tarryn Aiken scored a crucial try in the final minutes of the match.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Sydney Roosters secured their spot in the NRLW grand final by defeating the Canberra Raiders 20-10 on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium. The match was marked by early dominance from the Roosters when Jayme Fressard scored a try just two minutes into the game, but the Raiders fought back strongly after Rima Butler's barge in the 19th minute. Despite Canberra’s efforts, including Hollie-Mae Dodd’s second-half try, the Roosters held on with crucial contributions from Jess Sergis and Tarryn Aiken, who scored a decisive try with two minutes remaining. This victory ensures the Roosters remain undefeated this season and will face either Gold Coast or Brisbane in next Sunday's grand final, aiming to win their third consecutive title after losing last year’s decider to Brisbane.
Written for “Roosters NRLW Grand Final Spot” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The Roosters will have two teams come grand final, with John Strange’s NRLW side booking their October 4 spot less than 24 hours after Trent Robinson’s men did the same up in Brisbane.
asserted
men → have → Brisbane
The Tricolours prevailed 20-10 in a dramatic preliminary final against Canberra at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, that included hair pulls and bloodied faces.
asserted
that → prevail → pulls
It will be the Tricolours’ third consecutive NRLW grand final, after their 2024 premiership and 2025 heartbreak, where they will meet the winner on Sunday’s clash between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
asserted
they → meet → Coast
It took the 2026 minor premiers just two minutes to score their first try on Saturday, but were in real jeopardy of losing their first game of the season until the final moments of the match, when halfback Tarryn Aiken sealed the deal, scoring with two minutes to spare.
asserted
Aiken → take → minutes
Their narrow victory means the Roosters remain undefeated this year, with their only loss in the past two years coming in the 2025 grand final against Brisbane.
asserted
loss → mean → Brisbane
When Canberra’s Chante Temara put Hollie-Mae Dodd across in the second half, there were 10 minutes left in the match with just one converted try the difference, but an epic from Jess Sergis and Aiken’s try quashed any concerns of an upset.
asserted
epic → put → upset
When Roosters winger Jayme Fressard scored in the second minute of the match, it was entirely possible for a finely-tuned Roosters side to deal some heavy damage ahead of the grand final.
But after teammate Rima Butler barged across in the 19th minute, the Raiders fought back while the Roosters attack fell to pieces.
asserted
attack → score → pieces
Five-eighth Krystal Blackwell scored the Raiders opening try – an impressive feat given she was left bloodied enough by a head clash with Rima Butler that she had to change her jersey mid-way through the first half.
asserted
she → score → half
After the Raiders played a set a woman down, as Blackwell changed into the No.25 jersey, she returned to score a beauty that kept her team in the game.
asserted
that → play → game
Fressard was left banged-up trying to make the tackle on Blackwell and did not return for the second half with a shoulder injury.
asserted
Fressard → leave → injury
It’s a worry for the Roosters on grand final day, with Fressard – a NSW representative – only just making her return from a hand injury.
asserted
Fressard → ’ → injury
Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly was on her way to a long-range try earlier in the half, before she was brought to ground by her hair by Canberra fullback Sheridan Gallagher.
asserted
she → bring → Gallagher
Gallagher was lucky enough to avoid the sin bin despite it appearing to be an act of foul play.
asserted
it → avoid → play
Canberra were controversially denied an equaliser with 24 minutes left in the match because Roosters winger Brydie Parker had her foot under the ball, and the Tricolours bungle a number of try-scoring opportunities to keep the match alive.
asserted
Tricolours → deny → match
Sergis gave the team some breathing room with a try from an impressive kick chase after Canberra winger Isabella Waterman let the ball bounce.
asserted
ball → give → chase
And, despite a quiet night from Aiken and halves partner Jocelyn Kelleher, the Roosters No.7 made it count when they needed her most, scoring to seal her team’s spot in the final.
asserted
they → make → final
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