Winger Brydie Parker and Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick scored two tries apiece as the Roosters cemented their status as competition heavyweights at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
But after the Tricolours blew the Sharks out of the water with four tries in 11 first-half minutes, underdogs Cronulla fought back to cut the margin to two points with seven minutes remaining.
The Sharks, playing their first decider in just their second season, sparked into life in the second period, scoring three tries in 10 minutes to keep their hopes of a miracle comeback alive.
Having trailed by 24-0 at halftime - on track for a record loss in a grand final - Cronulla came storming back through captain Tiana Penitani, hooker Quincy Dodd and five-eighth Georgia Hannaway.
Powerful prop Ellie Johnston bulldozed over late to cut the difference to two points.
ELLIE JOHNSTON 🤯— NRLW (@NRLWomens) #NRLWGF @telstra Moment of the Match pic.twitter.com/hQxZRDCS7hOctober 6, 2024
But the Roosters, who had wilted in the sapping western Sydney heat, managed to find another gear in attack and Kernick crashed over for her second of the afternoon with three minutes left to seal the title.
Cronulla winger Casey Staples had a torrid afternoon under Jocelyn Kelleher's towering bombs, with the Roosters five-eighth given ample time and space to measure her kicks.
Easts' first three tries came soon after strong work from their chasing pack forced the rugby sevens convert to spill the ball, letting them recover possession high up the field.
Kernick powered her way over for the opener after a quarter of an hour before winger Jayme Fressard scored in the left corner following a smart tap-on from captain Isabelle Kelly.
The Roosters then changed their focus to the right flank, where Parker scored two tries in two minutes as the Sharks defence disassembled.
Jayme Fressard crashes over in what was a dominant first half by the Roosters. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
Halfback Aiken fed Jessica Sergis through a gaping hole in the Cronulla line and the Jillaroos centre, in her first start since August 10, slipped through untouched to send her side into the break with a seemingly insurmountable lead.
After closing the margin to six late on, the Sharks gifted the Roosters possession with an unforced error from the kick-off and followed that up with a penalty for a slow ruck, which Kelleher duly slotted to extend the lead beyond a try once more.
That proved the difference, as after Penitani brought up her brace with a minute to go, Cronulla declined to take the conversion, needing four points to level the scores, and could not find another try to overturn the lead.
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