Minor premiers the Roosters are out to continue their unbeaten season and set up a shot at back-to-back titles while the Sharks are seeking a shot at redemption after losing last year’s decider to Isabelle Kelly’s team. 

Remarkably, the Roosters have not tasted defeat since August last year, when the Titans rolled them on the Gold Coast.

The sixth victory in their streak of 17 straight was last year’s grand final against the Sharks, a thrilling contest that saw Cronulla fight back from 24-0 down at the break to get within four points at the final siren.








If the Sharks are to derail the Roosters juggernaut they’ll need to turn around a 40-10 in the final round of the regular season just 16 days ago.

Follow all the Preliminary Finals action on NRL.com’s live blog.

Roosters v Sharks at Polytec Stadium, Gosford

34 min: Kernick, the 2024 Dally M Medallist and one of the Roosters’ home grown star, has regained the lead for her side just before halftime with a determined run through the Sharks ruck. Kelleher converted. Roosters 10 Sharks 6.

30 min: The boot of Kiria-Ratu has constantly got her team out of trouble and put the Roosters on the back foot.

27 min: Great desperate defence by the Sharks near their own line. Jasmin Strange knocks on to relieve the pressure.

22 min: Georgia Hannaway is on and she has made an immediate impact with a kick that almost led to a try for Kiria-Ratu.

20 min: Another Roosters close call, with Olivia Kernick losing the ball over the line. 

19 min: Holmes has come up with a try saving tackle to hold up Roosters interchange forward Eliza Lopamaua over the tryline.

15 min: The Sharks have hit back through lock Brooke Anderson, who made an angled run off a dummy half pass from Quincy Dodd, after a Kiria-Ratu kick gave the visitors field position. Kiria-Ratu converted. Sharks 6 Roosters 4.

12 min: The Roosters strike first through winger Jayme Fressard, who coaches the Central Coast Roosters Lisa Fiaola Cup team. Kelleher created the tryscoring opportunity with a long pass to captain Isabelle Kelly, who tapped the ball onto the unmarked winger. Kelleher missed the conversion from out wide. Roosters 4 Sharks 0.

11 min: Sharks secondrower Talei Holmes has been placed on report for a hip drop tackle on Roosters forward Rima Butler.

9 min: Another scoring opportunity for the Roosters goes begging when winger Mia Woods drops the ball with the line open. Kelleher’s kicking game is creating sustained pressure.

7 min: Kelleher forced a goaline dropout but Sharks halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu managed to kick the ball 70m.

5 min: Ill discipline from the Sharks has enabled the Roosters to go on the attack and only desperate defence stopped Keeley Davis from scoring from dummy half.

3 min: The Sharks have a 7-tackle set after Roosters five-eighth Corban Baxter kicked the ball dead.

Kick-off: We are underway in the grand final qualifier in Gosford and Jocelyn Kelleher’s nerves are obvious as she kicked out on the full from the kick-off.

Central Coast Roosters: The defending premiers and 2025 minor premiers are full of home-grown talent and expect to have a lot of local support at Polytec Stadium. 

The big Five-0: Star utility Jocelyn Kelleher will take over the playmaking duties for the Roosters in her 50th NRLW game. Kelleher made her debut in 2020 and was a member of this year’s victorious NSW Origin team.


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Journey to 50: Jocelyn Kelleher

HUGE Sharks boost: Some big team news for Cronulla with Quincy Dodd and Annessa Biddle cleared to make their returns from injury.

Late Mail

Roosters: Corban Baxter is set for her first game since Round 7 after recovering from an ankle injury and will step straight into the halves in place of Tarryn Aiken (ACL). Baxter will start at five-eighth, with Jocelyn Kelleher shifting to halfback for her 50th NRLW game. Taina Naividi is set to play her first game in the back row this season after Aliyah Nasio was suspended. Mia Wood returns to the wing as a result. No late changes.

Sharks: A huge boost 24 hours before kick-off with internationals Annessa Biddle and Quincy Dodd added to the starting side. It is Biddle’s first game since Round 7 having overcome an elbow injury and the Kiwi Ferns star will play in the centres. Grace-Lee Weekes drops out. Hooker Quincy Dodd was promoted to start when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off after recovering from an ankle injury. Georgia Hannaway shifts to the  bench utility role, with Tyla King  dropping to 18th player.




Kiwi Ferns star Annessa Biddle is preparing for her first match in six weeks after recovering from an ankle injury.


Kiwi Ferns star Annessa Biddle is preparing for her first match in six weeks after recovering from an ankle injury.
©David Hossack/NRL Photos