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NRLW finalists reveal the key changes to find success
Sebastian Tan, AAP •  September 24th, 2026 2:44 pm
The Raiders and Roosters had contrasting approaches to 2026 and now face-off in a preliminary final | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
When Canberra and Sydney Roosters were both entrenched in their NRLW pre-seasons, their respective coaching teams decided to shake things up.
The Raiders held emotional 'vulnerability sessions' in which each player spoke about their background and journey to rugby league, while the Roosters overhauled their on-field winning formula.
The pair's strategies may have been vastly different, but they've both played an integral role in helping spur their respective successful seasons.
Now the two side's will demonstrate just how much of an impact those changes have made when they face off in their preliminary final on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
Canberra have formed a tight bond on and off the field and are making plenty of noise in the finals | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
"We have changed the way we played since last year. Obviously, we didn't win the grand final last year, so Strangey (coach John Strange) went away and looked at how we can be better and how we can hopefully finish this season off," five-eighth Jocelyn Kelleher told AAP.
"It was honestly a pretty late change, so it was probably about a week before our trial game.
"We flipped the script on its head, and we had a lot to learn in a week.
"He (Strange) puts a lot of faith in us to carry out what his master plan is, and it's worked out pretty well for us this year."
Hollie Mae-Dodd, who has enjoyed another big season with the Green Machine, says the 'vulnerability sessions' have continued to occur, with the most recent one happening on the eve of finals.
"We saw weaknesses and vulnerabilities in people that we maybe didn't know. We didn't know about their background and what they'd previously (experienced)," Dodd told AAP.
"We spoke about believing in each other and our vulnerabilities.
"It made you see people in a different light. You definitely became closer to the people."
The Roosters have been flying again this season and want to finish 2026 with more accolades | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
Canberra are on a fairy-tale run, and they'll be looking to snare a maiden grand final berth with a win over their undefeated opponents on Saturday.
When the pair played earlier this season, the Tricolours edged the Green Machine by just four points, and the Raiders are planning to build on that game to claim a major upset.
The Roosters, on the other hand, want to make sure fullback Corban Baxter and prop Millie Elliott are sent off with a premiership after the star duo last week announced their retirement from the game.
