Tarryn Aiken aims to deliver premiership after 2025 loss

Ask others, however, and they’ll tell you the Roosters are strongest when Aiken is calling the shots.

“She’s the best half in the game,” says captain Isabelle Kelly. “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.”

Aiken was a notable absence in last year’s grand final, having suffered an ACL injury in the last round of the regular season which ruled her out of the finals. The Roosters lost the decider to Brisbane in the final five minutes of the match.

Jocelyn Kelleher and Corban Baxter had been admirable when filling in at No.7. But Aiken had been the team’s X-factor, and her loss cost them dearly.

“To lose your halfback two weeks out from a grand final, it’s obviously insanely hard considering we had her all year,” Kelleher says.

“I was lucky enough to be trusted with that spot. However, we are a lot stronger when she’s back. She gets through holes that don’t even exist, and she’s a genius out on that field.”