Kelly's heroes: Injured Roosters stars driven by pain of defeat

Isabelle Kelly used the pain of back-to-back finals exits to help her overcome the physical pain of a dislocated elbow and lead Sydney Roosters to Sunday’s premiership decider against the Sharks.

Kelly spent the week leading up to the Roosters 25-16 elimination of the Knights with her right elbow in a brace after suffering a dislocation, ruptured ligaments and bone bruising in the Round 9 match against the Eels.

Yet Kelly insisted she would not miss the semi-final at Allianz Stadium and the star centre joined returning stars Tarryn Aiken (AC joint) and Jess Sergis (knee) to help inspire the Roosters to an impressive defeat of the back-to-back premiers.

“I feel that the last two seasons we fell short and that’s really hurt as a player and as a captain,” Kelly said. “I just knew that I was going to do everything that I was capable of to make sure that I was up for selection for this round.

“I put my body on the line for these girls and this club, and I'm just super inspired by every single player that I get to play with in this team, so if I could just go out there and just do my job defensively and work hard for those girls and get us to that grand final, that’s all I wanted to do.”

Roosters coach John Strange said the courage of Kelly and her determination to play, along with Aiken and Sergis, had inspired their team-mates.

Aiken was initially told after injuring her AC joint in Round 7 that her season was over, but she played with the aid of painkilling injections and padding on her shoulder, while Sergis returned six weeks after suffering an MCL injury.

“Izzy last week dislocated her elbow and ruptured a ligament. I’m in awe of what she’s done. It was only seven days ago,” Strange said.

“I spoke to her on the Monday when she got the scans back and she was really sore - she had heavy bone bruising as well - but there was not any thought from Izzy that she wasn't going to play and lead her team to a grand final.

“Tarryn was always playing, in her mind, and once again she's very tough. She got herself injected before the game and padded up. She definitely went through a lot of pain out there today and they targeted her, which we spoke about.

“She knew that was going to happen and she didn’t back away from it, so I'm inspired by her, as well, and Jess.

“When she injured her MCL in round three against the Tigers, there was talk there from the medical staff that she might be out for the season.

“Jess was positive, and she's worked really hard, even though she was in a knee brace for four weeks so she couldn't actually run.”

Kelly led the run metres for backs, carrying the ball 156m, while Aiken produced two try assists despite being called upon to attempt 20 tackles, and Sergis played 42 minutes from the interchange.

“Jess was underdone fitness wise, and she was blowing out there, she said to me, in the first five minutes,” Strange said.

“But once again she's one of these girls that have gone through the pain of the last couple of seasons and she wants to put herself in a situation to play in a grand final, and I thought she did a really good job when she got out there.”

After winning the 2021 grand final against the Dragons, the Roosters have been eliminated at the semi-final stage for the past two seasons, by the Eels in 2022 and Titans in 2023.

Kelly, Sergis, winger Brydie Parker, prop Mya Hill-Moana, second-rower Olivia Kernick and playmaker Jocelyn Kelleher are the only survivors from the 2021 premiership winning team, and they crave more success.

"I don't think there's been a day gone by since the last semi that I haven’t thought about that, and then thought about making sure that as a coach that doesn't happen again," Strange said.

“As a coach, you don't want to see pain on your players’ faces and I didn't want to see that again in another semi-final."

Kelly added: “Obviously, the job's not done yet but I'm just really proud that we have got there, and we have built from the last few years".