Ferguson faces mentor Aiken in NRLW grand final showdown
Mentor Tarryn Aiken and protégé Jada Ferguson clash in Sunday's NRLW grand final as Roosters halfback and Broncos hooker.
Broncos hooker Jada Ferguson owes her rugby league career to Roosters halfback Tarryn Aiken. Ferguson was aged out of the game after under-12s in Toowoomba, where opportunities for girls were scarce.
Ferguson switched to rugby sevens instead. When she moved to the Gold Coast for university, she and Aiken played touch football together, and Aiken convinced her to return to league.
Ferguson made the Broncos squad in her first year and scored in last year's grand final. Now the two rivals will meet in Sunday's decider, with Ferguson part of Brisbane's winning spine alongside fullback Tamika Upton.
Aiken played a key role in Upton's development too, and has guided the Roosters to an undefeated campaign.
- 52
- Ferguson's dummy-half runs 2026
- 2019, 2020
- Aiken Broncos premierships
- three
- Upton Dally M Medals
Why it mattersThe connection between mentee and mentor adds a human dimension to a high-stakes grand final between two powerhouse teams.
AustraliaAustralian women's rugby league reaches its biggest game of the year, with both finalists featuring world-class players developed through mentorship.
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