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.
Playmaker Tarryn Aiken was instrumental in the victory, setting up two tries and having a hand in the build-up for three others on her way to winning the Karyn Murphy Medal for player of the match.
After the Tricolours blew the Sharks out of the water with four tries in 11 first-half minutes, underdogs Cronulla, playing their first decider in just their second season, sparked into life in the second period.
Having trailed 24-0 at the interval - 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 in a 10-minute blitz.
Powerful prop Ellie Johnston then showed great ingenuity to catch the ball with her knees, spin past her marker and crash over to cut the margin to two points with seven minutes remaining.
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 Sydney afternoon 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.
Captain Kelly, who ran for a typically impressive 161 metres with ball in hand, said she was extremely proud of how her team held on under the pressure of a grand final.
"We had a lot of girls that probably have never played big games in this arena before, but they really stood up and did their job," she said.
"When we were getting scored on quite a bit, it was quite tough and mentally sometimes that can affect people. But I think the proudest moment for me was seeing those girls stand up and making sure that we got that win."
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.
Each of Easts' first three tries came soon after 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 and Parker scored a double as the Sharks' defence crumbled.
Jayme Fressard crashes over in what was a dominant first half by the Roosters. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
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.
Having closed the margin to six late on, the Sharks gifted the Roosters possession with an unforced error from the kick-off and followed that by conceding a penalty for a slow ruck.
Kelleher kicked the goal to extend the lead beyond a try once more, and that proved the difference.
After Penitani brought up her double with a minute to go, Cronulla declined to take the conversion, needing four points to level the scores. But they could not find another try to overturn the lead.
Despite the defeat, Sharks coach Tony Herman had plenty to be happy about, with his side easily the competition's most improved this season.
"I definitely could not be more proud of the girls to come back like that and take it to the last play of the game," he said.
"What an amazing football side and what an amazing group of people."
