LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Sydney Roosters NRLW celebrated an incredible regular season by claiming the inaugural Nellie Doherty Shield, which honors the competition's minor premiers.
Captain Isabelle Kelly and head coach John Strange received the award during the NRLW finals launch from Andrew Abdo, who commended the club's impressive consistency. Although the season isn't over, it has already featured unforgettable moments.
The Roosters concluded the 2025 season unbeaten in all 11 games, extending their winning streak to 17 consecutive matches from the previous season. They matched the highest NRLW score recorded in a single game, both Isabelle Kelly and Keely Davis became among the first NRLW players to reach 50 games, and Jocelyn Kelleher made history as the first NRLW player to hit 250 points.
The newly introduced shield is named after Nellie Doherty, a pioneer whose tenacity was instrumental in launching organized women's rugby league over a century ago.
In May 1921, Doherty, along with Molly Cane, wrote to the NSW Rugby League seeking assistance to create a women's competition. Their correspondence highlighted the success of women's soccer in England and France, suggesting similar potential for Sydney. Initially, the NSW Rugby League dismissed their request, deeming the timing unsuitable, but just three days later, they reversed their stance, offering full support to establish clubs and fixtures. Doherty and Cane quickly convened at NSWRL headquarters to outline their plans.
By early June, over 50 women gathered at Philip Street to hear the NSWRL officially endorse the formation of a women's rugby league competition in Sydney. Cheers filled the room as districts were announced-Eastern Suburbs, Souths, North Sydney, Newtown, Balmain, Glebe, St George, and Wests. This led to the establishment of five clubs. Their uniforms included bathing caps, football jumpers, and shorts, which were eventually approved after some persuasion. A committee was formed, with Molly Cane as president and Nellie Doherty as treasurer.
Thanks to Nellie's perseverance, on Saturday, 17 September 1921, these trailblazing women donned their makeshift uniforms and stepped onto the field at Sydney Showgrounds for the first official Women's Rugby League match in Australia. The teams, Metropolitan Blues and Sydney Reds, competed fiercely, with Metropolitan emerging victorious 21-11. The event attracted an estimated 34,000 spectators, a notable turnout that captured the attention of the sporting community. Among the highlights was 15-year-old Maggie Moloney, who scored four tries and drew comparisons to Dally Messenger due to her remarkable speed, proving that women's rugby league could deliver the same excitement as the men's game.