Star centre Jess Sergis is excited to continue her own personal winning run into the 2022 NRLW season as the Roosters embark on their quest for back-to-back Premierships.
After claiming an emphatic inaugural title for the Club back in April, Sergis has added to her cabinet of silverware with a Grand Final win in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership as well as hoisting aloft the State of Origin shield with the Sky Blues.
She says that the extended period of game time will no doubt lead to one of the greatest NRLW seasons we've ever seen.
“I feel like it’s been a rollercoaster of a year, but it’s been fun,” Sergis said.
“But now I’ve got two Premierships in the one year which has been awesome. We were the first side at the Roosters to do it; the start was rocky, but we came together and peaked when it mattered most.
“It’s been a big year for Women’s Rugby League in general, I think. Going into the second NRLW competition with the footy that we’ve got under our belt, I think this will be one of the best seasons we’ve ever had.
Sergis Puts the Nail in the Coffin
“I do think it’ll be a benefit having played continuously through the year. Initially, we were a bit nervous with the amount of football that we had with managing our bodies and keeping fresh, but we’re very lucky that we’ve got performance staff that help us out with that.
“Fitness-wise and skill wise I think we’ll be at our best going into a season. Our pre-season felt quite good because we were going off the back of the Women’s Premiership, so it’s been easier than years in the past.
“It’s really exciting just to think about the amount of talent and skill that will be on show in this next season.”
With over three-quarters of the Premiership-winning squad retained, there is a strong morale boost with so many recognisable names in Red, White and Blue.
All the girls have slotted in really nicely and we’ve gelled well. It feels like we’re all in a little family at the moment. That was what we really wanted to focus on this season, getting to know each other before playing football.
Jessica Sergis On the squad's morale heading into the new season
But it's the new faces to the squad that Sergis is excited about, who says that the bond between her teammates is the key to their future success.
“The new faces have been awesome,” she said.
“I’m really stoked with some of the signings that we’ve added, especially Destiny Brill coming up. She’s a trooper of a girl and with the power and aggression she has, it’s definitely going to get us on the front foot.
“I know Sam Bremner really well and obviously she helps after losing a few key players who have been vocal and are real leaders. I was a bit devastated about that but knowing when we got Sammy in the squad and knowing the experience and leadership that she has is massive.
Hit Play | NRLW Grand Final
“You can hear her from a kilometre away – that’s how loud she is when she laughs and talks and to have that on the field to push us to keep going and controlling us around the field is going to be crucial.
“She’s that spark and key to the back. She’s a mum of two and in her thirties but she’s playing the best footy that I’ve seen her play. I’m really excited for her.
“All the girls have slotted in really nicely and we’ve gelled well. It feels like we’re all in a little family at the moment. That was what we really wanted to focus on this season, getting to know each other before playing football.
“That’s where you saw the difference between the beginning and the end of last season. We’ve built those relationships and we feel like a really tight-knit group.”
Being the first team to play on that field is history in itself, and playing before our boys and having all our fans there, it’s going to be an epic Grand Final rematch. Everything’s building to it and there’s so much excitement.
Jess Sergis On opening Allianz Stadium
One key member of the 2021 Premiership is centre partner Isabelle Kelly, who scored a crucial try in the decider and was named the Club's Player of the Year following the emphatic victory.
Now, Sergis' long-time teammate makes the next step up in her career as the Roosters' Captain for 2022, succeeding Corban Baxter following her recent pregnancy.
Having the coveted 'C' next to her name is merely a natural progression for the NSW Sky Blue and Jillaroo, according to Sergis.
“I feel like she’s at a time in her career where she can really push a squad and be really vocal,” she stated.
“She’s one of the best players in the game and having her as a leader, I don’t think it’ll put too much pressure on her.
She already steps up to that role for us and does that naturally, and for the squad and the Club, she was our best bet.
“She can really take us all on and lead us from that field.”
If there's one match that Roosters Members and supporters should definitely have circled in their calendars, it's the Round 3 Grand Final rematch against St George Illawarra at Allianz Stadium.
In an historic first, the Roosters NRLW side will officially open the stadium prior to the NRL counterparts who do battle with local rivals Souths in the final round of the regular season.
It's a moment that Sergis - who grew up watching the Tricolours at the old rendition of the Sydney Football Stadium as a child - will savour for years to come.
“We found out last Monday night and I was absolutely buzzing," said Sergis.
"I couldn’t concentrate on training that night because obviously it was in the talks and we weren’t too sure whether we were going to get to play there or not and I was quite devastated.
“Being the first team to play on that field is history in itself, and playing before our boys and having all our fans there, it’s going to be an epic Grand Final rematch. Everything’s building to it and there’s so much excitement.
“I’m so pumped to go out there and create history.”
