Jess surges to career-best try tally in a season to savour

Moving up to the top of the NRLW tryscoring list is simply a measure of how much Jess Sergis is enjoying her football this year. 

With 10 tries in her past six games and 17 overall for the season she has two more than Dally M winner and Broncos fullback Tamika Upton, who she meets in Sunday's grand final.

It is also the first time in her nine-year NRLW career that Sergis has cracked double-digits. 

Her next highest number of tries in a season was last year with eight. 

So how did the Roosters centre double that with the same amount of games? 

“It definitely helps having Tarryn Aiken inside of me and having her back (after ACL injury),” Sergis told NRL.com. 

“Not only does she bring success to the whole team, she means a lot to us on the right edge with her shape and passing. 

“But otherwise I’m just backing my ability – I’m having so much fun this year.” 

Stats prove opposition teams aren’t in for a good time coming up against her - 52 tackle breaks, 14 line breaks, and nine try assists alongside her 17 tries in 12 matches. 

Her speed in full flight is one thing but Sergis is certainly never one to give up on the play.  

She never took her eyes off a Jocelyn Kelleher kick in last week’s preliminary final, which Raiders winger Isabelle Waterman let bounce only to find Sergis swooping it up and scoring.

No niggling injuries like her knee and foot in past years have returned to haunt her either. 

“I had a goal this year to play every game and stay on the field,” Sergis said. 

“Earlier I’ve had some stop-starts but I sat down with our strength and conditioning coach and said I wanted to be there for my team every week. 

“I’ve done that for the last two years now. I take a lot more time with my prep and recovery now to get the best out of my body.

“And everyone here gives 110 per cent every training session, every match.  

“They are a great group of girls who are very competitive, very talented and back each other.”

Sergis’ home life is also flourishing with partner and fellow outside back with the Roosters, Tommy Talau. 

“Exactly right – we each know what the other needs because we’re both footballers," she said.

“When he came over from Manly we actually manifested that we’d both be in a grand final this year. 

“He’s not in the 19 but I know he’s just stoked to be a part of it all because he’s never been in a grand final week.  

"He’s also very happy for me and always very supportive of me too.”