The Sydney Roosters produce a second-half blitz to beat St George Illawarra 16-4 and become NRLW premiers for the first time.
The Dragons led 4-0 after a tense first half thanks to Maddison Bartlett's opener in the opening minutes at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe.
However, despite only completing 23 of their 34 sets, the Roosters managed to cross three times in the second half through Yasmin Meakes, Isabelle Kelly and Olivia Higgins.
Sarah Togatuki, who was only cleared to play by the judiciary mid-week, was key for the Roosters and was awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal for best on ground.
The Roosters were never expected to reach the final, only making the final four thanks to Brisbane's defeat of the Titans on the final day.
Then, in the semi-final, the Roosters came back from 0-16 down to defeat the Broncos and make it through to their third NRLW final.
The 7,855 supporters in attendance were treated to a tense and enthralling affair from the off, in what were superb conditions in Redcliffe.
With an excellent run from fullback by Emma Tonegato, the Dragons — who were favourites — stunned the Roosters in the very first passage of play.
The two-time Olympian ran off the back of a scrum before shifting play to the left to Bartlett, who ran over untouched to score inside 90 seconds.
The Roosters were held up twice by superb Dragons defence, even with a player advantage after Taliah Fuimaono was sent to the bin.
Fuimaono had been penalised for a high shot on the unfortunate Brydie Parker, who fell into the tackle as a result of a serious-looking knee injury, leaving the Dragons down to 12, but still they held out.
In fact, despite playing most of the half inside their own territory and being down a player, the Dragons looked to have scored again when Keely Davis collected her own grubber, but the bunker discovered a knock-on on review.
In the second half though, the roles were reversed.
First Meakes burrowed over from close range after her run put the Roosters on the front foot.
Then, 10 minutes later, Kelly was the beneficiary of a superb move down the left, instigated by a stunning line from skipper Corban Baxter, who was also celebrating her 26th birthday.
Higgins completed the scoring, scurrying past an injured player after breaking a tackle to score her first-ever NRLW try and seal victory.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
Live updates
By Simon Smale
'Thank you for my birthday present': Baxter
Birthday girl Corban Baxter is now speaking, first addressing the vanquished Dragons.
"You guys have been the benchmark this season in my eyes," she says.
"You should be very, very proud of yourselves today, it was a very tough battle out there."
Now, her Roosters teammates.
"I love you girls so much. We've been building all season. It's been a rollercoaster of a ride but you guys have shown so much resilience.
"Thank you for my birthday present, it doesn't get much better than that."
By Simon Smale
'This season has been unreal'
Dragons captain Kezie Apps is speaking now.
"Thank you for everyone who came out to watch such a great game of rugby league. This season has been unreal. I'm so proud to be a part of it," she says.
"The Sydney Roosters, what an awesome match. What you guys have done this season is unbelievable.
"To our girls, I'm so proud of you."
"I can't wait for round two at the end of the year."
By Simon Smale
Sarah Togatuki is named player of the match
Togatuki, speaking the same way she plays, at 100 miles per hour.
"Thank you for giving us the hardest match of the season," she says.
"To your captain Kezie Apps, I love you my sis, what happens on the field, stays on the field.
"Just be proud that we've come so far and keeping this game going.
"We know we didn't have the greatest start to the campaign but we tank you to our family and our supporters near and far.
"I feel undeserving of this medal, if I could share this medal in so many pieces I would give it to every player who played in the grand final."
By Simon Smale
Full time! Roosters win the grand final!
The Roosters have won 16-4 over the Dragons!
There are tears and cheers, the Roosters, who were decidedly underwhelming in the regular season and needed results to go their way to even make the four, make it third time lucky to claim their first NRLW Premiership.
By Simon Smale
0' - Dragons held up short
Quincy Dodd is held up short after another terrible fifth tackle option from the Dragons.
And that will be that.
By Simon Smale
1' - Penalty Dragons!
Sturgess rips the ball away after the call of held after the Dragons regather the short kickoff.
Dragons penalty.
By Simon Smale
3' - Roosters score again to win the grand final!
Sarah Togatuki breaks free and surges into Dragons territory.
The Dragons scramble back but where always on the back foot.
A Roosters player went down in the tackle and the trainer was there, telling the referee to stop the play, but Olivia Higgins muscled her way out of a tackle and spotted a gap (perhaps caused by the injured player?) and ran through to score her first ever NRLW try!
What a time to get it!
The Roosters are home and hosed, leading 16-4 with two minutes to go!
By Simon Smale
4' - The Dragons cough up possession
Baxter picks up brilliantly as she runs onto the ball at pace, the ball kicked as it was dropped with the Dragons probing at the 40.
There is a bit of a pause though as Surgess is slow to get up after a crunching tackle.
By Simon Smale
5' - Roosters call for captains challenge for a knock on
End to end stuff as both teams force the other to take the ball out from inside their 10 metres.
There was a knock on there by the Roosters, who were looking to offload in the tackle.
By Simon Smale
8' - Dragons turn it over on the fifth!
Another poor piece of decision making from the Dragons, they've been bad all game on fifth tackle, and the Roosters will regain possession in their own five.
By Simon Smale
9' - Penalty Dragons!
High tackle from Jessica Sergis and the Dragons will reset the count inside the 30.
By Simon Smale
10' - Out on the full!
The kick from the Roosters 40 had a bit too much juice on it and that's a penalty to the Dragons on the Roosters 40!
By Simon Smale
11' - Roosters deny Alberts!
The Dragons run the ball on the last again and hand the ball to Alberts, who has four or five Roosters around her to deny an opportunity for an offload and that's a hand over inside the five.
By Simon Smale
12' - Knock on Roosters!
Was there a high shot there?
Keeley Davis has smashed Raecene McGregor and the ball has been dislodged, but Quincy Dodd had her hand high...
The bunker has cleared that high hand.
McGregor's sister has already left the field with an injury but, despite lying on her back for an age, Raecene will be OK to continue.
By Simon Smale
15' - Roosters score!
Brilliant hands from the Roosters!
Corban Baxter ran a brilliant line, offloaded to Zahara Temara, who fumbled the ball but held on, offloading in turn to Isabelle Kelly who flew over the line.
Baxter was just on the outside shoulder and, at the risk of repeating myself, ran a brilliant line to set that all in motion.
Roosters lead 8-4.
Temara nails the conversion and that's a huge lead now for the Roosters in the context of this tight match.
Roosters lead 10-4.
By Simon Smale
16' - Penalty Roosters
The Roosters have won a penalty as Elsie Albert was offside.
However, Page McGregor has gone down with a right forearm injury.
It's been attritional stuff in this grand final and these injuries have started to add up.
I think McGregor is going to have to leave the field and won't return.
Another backline reshuffle for the Dragons.
By Simon Smale
18' - Teagan Berry hauled over the sideline!
The Roosters are pinned back in their own defensive third, and then cough up the ball!
Teagan Berry scoops it up and flies towards the line but is taken hard and then dragged unceremoniously over the sideline!
By Simon Smale
20' - Dragons defence holds up
A clear forward pass was missed there by the referee but the Roosters won't mind, they continue to press and move the ball to the left, Rachael Pearson makes a good tackle.
There are two Dragons down over on the left side of their attack, a bit of friendly fire, Talei Holmes is one of the players who is down and she'll go off for an HIA.
