NRLW finals, NRL season 2025, NRL grand final, NRLW grand final

Author: Colleen Edwards NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Mon 22 Sep 2025, 03:01 PM

After a thrilling opening week of finals in the biggest ever season of the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership competition, the action continues in earnest this weekend.

It's a grand final rematch for the opening preliminary final, with the undefeated Sydney Roosters hosting Cronulla Sharks on the Central Coast on Saturday.

The 2025 minor premiers and second-placed Broncos had the opening week of the finals off to prepare to host their challengers in Week 2.

The Sharks won their way through to week two by denying the North Queensland Cowboys 24-18 in Townsville with Georgia Hannaway a star for the visitors.

In form after making her Queensland Maroons debut earlier this year, her move from the halves into the hooking role in recent weeks has proved a masterstroke, with her pace proving hard to contain.

NRLW Round Up – Finals Week 1, 2025

The Sharks will be hoping to turn the tables on the Roosters after they went down 40-10 when the two side met in the final round of the regular season.

Although the dominant performers in the competition all season, that game was a costly one for the Roosters, who lost star half Tarryn Aiken to an ACL injury, while young gun Aliyah Nasio is out of the game following a suspension for a shoulder charge.

The defending premiers are also sweating on the availability of winger Jayme Fressard (ankle) and forward Amber Hall, who missed the second half of that game with a calf complaint. Star centre Jess Sergis also suffered back spasms.

All Tries – Roosters v Sharks

On Sunday, it's a massive day at Suncorp Stadium with the Broncos hosting the Knights in the second NRLW preliminary final. The NRL preliminary final between Brisbane and Penrith will take place straight after as the second game of the double-header.

The Knights powered their way into the preliminary final with a strong performance against the Titans, establishing an 18-0 half-time lead. However, coach Ben Jeffries will be wanting his team to learn from their second half where they let the Gold Coast back into the team. with late tries to Kayla Romaniuk and Shanice Parker needed to tie up the win.

The Broncos and Knights have a strong rivalry, with a number of players from the 'home' side having played a significant portion of their NRLW careers in Newcastle.

A former captain of the Knights, current Broncos backrower Romy Teitzel has been hitting top form, while gun fullback Tamika Upton won two Karyn Murphy Medals as player of the grand final while starring for the Newcastle side.

Upton at it again

Now co-captain of the Broncos alongside perennial big-game performer Ali Brigginshaw, Brisbane has spoken about learning from what they perceive to be their premature preliminary final exit last year, unable to get past the Sharks, despite their home support.

Every match of the finals series will be available for fans to watch on the Nine Network, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.