Sam Bremner has her coach's wife to thank for finally experiencing NRLW premiership success before hanging up her playing boots for good.
The veteran fullback won a long-coveted championship ring in her final game as the Sydney Roosters held on to beat Cronulla 32-28 in Sunday's grand final.
But a few months earlier she had been resigned to never winning a title.
Bremner was happily retired until days before the season kicked off, when she was coaxed back to the Roosters to fill in for injured No.1 Corban Baxter.
Her coach John Strange was contemplating calling up a younger player to fill the role, but Bremner was an obvious choice, having played under him in 2022.
"My wife, who's a bit of an expert on rugby league, she was adamant," he said.
"I haven't actually told Sammy this but she said, 'you need to get Sammy Bremner back, and you need to give her a call'.
"For me it was no question. I know what Sammy's like."
Despite coming into the side having had no pre-season training and not having run in 12 months following her latest pregnancy, Bremner never looked out of her depth, scoring six tries in 10 games.
She was the best player on the field as she scored a double against two-time reigning premiers Newcastle in the semi-final to get the Roosters into the decider.
And she was again instrumental in attack in the grand final, delivering the final pass for Brydie Parker as the winger pushed their side out to an 18-point lead.
"I feel like she's gotten better and better in every game," Strange said.
"Especially that try she set up on the sweep, squaring up and drawing in the winger and setting up Brydie Parker was something that she's been working really hard at.
"I think someone who's done so much, it's really fitting that she goes out with a with a premiership ring."
Bremner says she is happy to go back into retirement for good as she takes on a coaching role with St George Illawarra in 2025.
Despite still clearly having the ability to play at the top level, there's no temptation to go around again for another year.
"The reason why I'm not playing football is not because I don't like it, it's not because I don't feel capable," she said.
"It's because when I decide to do something, I put absolutely everything I can into it and when you do that, something has to give."
Driving Bremner's decision to move back to coaching was the ability to stay involved in the game while being able to spend more time with her two young children.
"In the last few months this season, it meant that that something that's had to give is the time with my children" she said.
"I love that I've been able to come back in, and if Strangey wants me to come in with no pre-season, just play four weeks next year. I mean, I won't say no, but yeah, it obviously takes a lot more.
"In terms of what it takes to be an elite athlete all year round, even though it is a part-time gig, as sad as it makes me to say, I'm just not willing to do what these girls do anymore, because it sacrifices my family."
