After crashing out in the semi-finals two years in a row, the Sydney Roosters couldn't countenance missing out on another NRLW grand final.
The Roosters have finished the regular season in the top two in every season since 2020, except for a fourth-placed finish in 2021 - the only time they've won a premiership.
Last week's 25-16 semi-final bludgeoning of two-time reigning premiers Newcastle banished any chance of them being branded choking chooks, and ensured they will go into Sunday's grand final against Cronulla as favourites.
Second-rower Olivia Kernick, who won this year's Dally M medal, says the previous year's disappointment helped rid them of any nerves about missing out again.
"I think last year that was sort of the mentality," Kernick told AAP.
"But this year, our mindset was that it was a must-win. Losing wasn't an option for us so we really just knew our roles and our jobs.
"I wasn't leaving unless we won."
That desperation was evident across the Roosters' squad.
Jess Sergis and Tarryn Aiken rushed back from long-term injuries to take part in the game, while captain Isabelle Kelly played despite having sustained ligament damage and bone bruising when she dislocated her elbow seven days earlier in a win over St George Illawarra.
"There was not any thought from Izzy (Kelly) that she wasn't going to play and lead her team to a grand final," said coach John Strange.
"I'm just inspired by Izzy and how all the girls went with her."
Kelly said falling short the past two seasons made her determined not to experience that pain again.
"As a captain you take a lot of responsibility on yourself," she said.
"I've got a really great relationship with Strangey and obviously seeing the pain that it caused him last year, I just knew that I was going to do everything that I was capable of to make sure that I was up for selection for this round.
"I'd put my body on the line for these girls and this club, and I'm just super inspired by every single player that I get to play with in this team."
The Roosters have been the most consistent side in the competition over the past five years, boasting 13 internationals in their roster.
But with the Warriors and Canterbury joining the league next year and competition for talent set to heat up, silverware may get even harder to come by.
"Definitely, I think every year you need to take that opportunity if you make it, even if you only make it into semis," Kernick says.
"The competition's only going to get harder with new teams coming in and talent coming through. But we can't think about next year, we really have to get this year's job done."
