A late scare against the Sharks was exactly what Jocelyn Kelleher needed to learn that she has the right credentials to lead the Roosters through a grand final battle.
All eyes turned to Kelleher in the final minutes of the side's preliminary final against the Cronulla Sharks as she lined up to kick the match-winning field goal.
It was the first time in Kelleher's NRLW career that she had nailed a field goal, with the Roosters typically looking to the injured Tarryn Aiken to fulfil such kicking duties.
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But with the star halfback unavailable due to an ACL injury that abruptly ended her season, Kelleher stood up in the pressure moment and iced the result.
"This whole season it's usually up to Tarryn, I was kind of just the back-up, so I hadn't been doing too much," she told media on Tuesday.
"We had done a lot of scenarios at training where I'd actually missed that.
"I think when I kicked that, Keeley [Davis] looked at me and said 'are you ready' and I was just like, 'yep, I guess so, give me the ball'.
"I just tried to take my time, and it ended up being the best kick I've ever done.
"Now, I just need to back myself in the grand final that if that happens again, I clearly can do it and I am capable of doing it. It was really good to get that for my confidence."
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Aiken's absence has forced a late reshuffle to the Roosters' spine, but those changes have posed little threat to their overall attacking capability.
Kelleher shifted from five-eighth to halfback to replace Aiken, while experienced star Corban Baxter moved into the No.6 jersey and Brydie Parker remained at fullback.
With no team in the competition yet to find the answer to defeating the Roosters, key mistakes against the Sharks reminded the team not to become complacent.
"It was too close for comfort," said Kelleher.
"There are a lot of things we need to work on. It was good to realise that we do have some gaps, so we will focus on that at training."
Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly confirmed Aiken will be present at the grand final.
"She is still involved and still analysing the game," Kelly said.
"She is going to be there for us supporting. Having her presence there will be great.
"It is going to be hard, but grand finals are always like that. It is the best against the best, that is why people love tuning in to watch the final.
"If we stick to what we know we can do … it is going to be a great match."
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