Brief
Roosters halfback Tarryn Aiken aims to rewrite NRLW grand final narrative
Aiken, returning from an ACL injury that cost the Roosters the 2025 final, hopes to lead the side to victory on Sunday.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Sydney Roosters halfback Tarryn Aiken entered the 2026 NRLW grand final with a personal mission to avoid the disappointment that saw her miss the 2025 decider after an ACL injury, SMH reported.
What happened
The Roosters secured their third consecutive grand‑final appearance by beating Canberra 20‑10 in a preliminary final at Allianz Stadium, remaining unbeaten all season. Aiken’s late try in that match sealed the win and highlighted her impact after a season in which the team trailed for a combined 70 minutes and two seconds, most of it in a round‑three loss to the Raiders despite ultimately winning the game.
What the reports add
SMH noted that teammate Olivia Kernick described Aiken’s rare on‑field outbursts as a sign that “we’re all doing something wrong,” while captain Isabelle Kelly called her “the best half in the game” for her game‑reading and attacking creativity. The article also recalled Aiken’s absence from the 2025 grand final, when her ACL injury forced her out and the Roosters fell to Brisbane in the final minutes.
What was said
“If she’s spraying you, you know we’re all doing something wrong,” Kernick told SMH. Aiken herself said the round‑three loss taught the team “a lot about ourselves and what works for us as a team.” Kelly added, “She gets a lot of recognition, but the way that she can read the game, attacking‑wise, and create situations for the people outside of her, is really incredible.”
How it came about
The Roosters entered the season unbeaten, with early victories setting a high bar. After Aiken’s injury in round 11 of 2025, the side relied on replacements Jocelyn Kelleher and Corban Baxter at halfback, but the team’s performance dipped in crucial moments. Aiken’s return in 2026 coincided with a resurgence, culminating in the preliminary‑final win that set up the Sunday clash against Brisbane, as previously previewed in Felo’s coverage of the upcoming grand final.
Key facts
- Tarryn Aiken missed the 2025 NRLW grand final due to an ACL injury. (smh.com.au)
- The Roosters beat Canberra 20‑10 in the preliminary final to stay unbeaten. (smh.com.au)
- Aiken scored a late try in the preliminary final, securing the win. (smh.com.au)
- Teammate Olivia Kernick said Aiken’s on‑field outbursts signal team errors. (smh.com.au)
- Captain Isabelle Kelly called Aiken "the best half in the game". (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “NRLW grand final 2026: Roosters halfback Tarryn Aiken has the chance to re-write the grand final narrative against Brisbane”
