It was on the AFL field that John Strange spotted a future Roosters’ Swiss-army knife, who has been pivotal in their 2025 title charge.
Playing alongside his daughter, Jasmine, was an athlete with “really good hand-eye coordination, a really good kick and she was really hard to tackle”.
“I thought she was also pretty tough as well,” Strange told foxsports.com.au.
Watch every game of the 2025 NRL Women’s Premiership LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
That player? Jocelyn Kelleher, who he didn’t know at the time would go on to become an NRLW weapon.
Strange approached Kelleher and told her that she should have a crack at rugby league, inviting her to try out for the Roosters’ Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership squad.
“That was the first year we put together that side in 2020, and I just said ‘do you want to come and trial?’ and she said ‘do you think I’d be any good?’.” Strange said.
“I said, ‘well yes I do, that’s why I am asking you’.”
Kelleher labelled that interaction as the “best conversation ever” and one that came as a complete shock — and a redirection of her professional trajectory.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all. Growing up, I didn’t have the opportunities to play league. My school didn’t do anything like that,” she said to foxsports.com.au.
“My first game was at 20. So it was kind of like, I feel like I should have started a bit earlier.
“But he brought me across and he pretty much taught me everything I know now. So yeah, very grateful for him.”
From that moment, her career spiralled.
Kelleher played her debut season in the Harvey Norman competition in the back row, before the NRLW loomed large that same year.
“She got a development contract, and then one of the girls in our top squad got injured. We just elevated her into the top squad,” Strange said.
Her NRLW debut set a precedent, with fullback Botille Vette-Welsh suffering an injury, with Strange shifting Corban Baxter to fullback and bringing Kelleher on in the centres.
A rough introduction to first grade, marking none other than Jessica Sergis, who was forging a scary centre partnership with Isabelle Kelly for the Dragons.
But it showed she could plug holes when they arose.
“From there she hasn’t actually missed a game,” Strange said.
While she started on an edge, Kelleher has been the Roosters ‘Mrs Fix It’ across her 50 NRLW games.
From the front row, to the wing, the 25-year-old has done it all at the highest level.
Tamika sets sights on Broncos glory | 04:39
“I’ve played every position at some point. I think in the 2021 grand final I was attacking as a hooker and defending as a winger for like a couple minutes,” Kelleher said.
“I’ve played everywhere. I’ve done it all pretty much even if it was for two minutes.”
“Even full back, I was standing on the sideline once ‘Strangey’ goes to me ‘do you remember that time you asked me to play full back?’ and I said, no.
“And he said ‘okay, well get on, you’re playing full back’. I was like, what? And I went on and played full back for about 20 minutes.
“I’ve played everywhere but I think it’s given me a better understanding of the game. Having to know everything across the board, where everyone’s running, the thought process behind everything, even defending.”
Having someone like Kelleher in his side has been a blessing for Strange, who always has a player ready to fill any gaps.
“You’re not really too concerned about getting injuries during a game when you’ve got someone like her in the side,” Strange said.
Fast forward to now and Kelleher is steering a red-hot Roosters side around the park, emerging as the club’s chief playmaker after a horror injury, having also made his Origin debut earlier this year.
In her 50th NRLW appearance, she also kicked a matchwinning field goal with three minutes left in the clash.
No smile, no celebration. It was all business for the talented playmaker, who will once again be crucial for the Tricolours in their bid to down the Broncos in the NRLW grand final.
“I think there was a lot of anxiety and shock in the moment, I didn’t think we were going to get that far down the field in that set,” Kelleher said.
“They got to the spot and Keeley looked at me and said ‘do you want to go now?’. I was like, ‘oh, I guess so’.
“Then I just went for it. There’s been a lot of times in training where I’ve missed that goal. But that was the best field goal, or drop out or anything I’ve ever cracked in my life.
“I think it was more shock in the moment.”
For Strange, that field goal, and the lack of reaction was indicative of his star playmaker’s mentality.
“She kicked it, but there were three minutes left on the clock. I wasn’t jumping for joy at all because there’s still time and that’s how she was thinking,”
“It’s next job, we need to defend… you’re still focused on the job.”
But that kick was the result of years of work on the AFL field, and with the GWS AFLW coaches.
“I did some work with the GWS AFLW coaches at the start of last year, it actually helped me a lot, improved my kicking game and my distance, technique,” Kelleher said.
And there was also the real possibility of the talented athlete playing in the VFL, until she realised rugby league might be slightly more important.
“I did quite a bit of work with them because I was going to play, I was looking at playing VFL with them,” she said.
Roosters book spot in NRLW Grand Final | 00:53
MORE NRL NEWS
‘F***ING BIZARRE’: Inside Broncos’ roster carnage and Madge’s touch — McKinnon
‘IN TATTERS’: How Madge hit rock bottom at Tigers before ‘incredible’ comeback
‘SERIOUS’: Lomax rumoured to walk out on Eels to join R360 as NRL threaten action
“Then I got a call to go to Devils for BMD, and I thought well I actually play rugby league, so I should pick that.
“It was very much in talks and one of the assistant coaches, I was in frequent communication with him to go and play (VFL).
“Then literally I think two days later I got a call to go to BMD. So yeah, it was a hard decision but I ended up choosing to go to Queensland.”
As aforementioned, that horror injury blow came for Tarryn Aiken, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury which ruled her out for the 2025 finals.
Kelleher was handed the reins as the dominant half following that moment, and she believes she has big shoes to fill.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it forever. I think that Taryn is the best half in the world and I don’t think anyone soon is going to take that spot,” she said.
”She’s an incredible player. She’s so smart. She gets through the smallest holes. She puts people through the smallest holes. She’s a genius.
“I love watching her play and I love playing with her even more. So it’s a huge loss. As I said, the best half in the world is hard to lose right before a semi.”
But ahead of the biggest test of her career, Strange believes Kelleher is the perfect player to take control and best the mighty Broncos on Sunday.
“She’s more of a genuine half, whether it’s halfback or five-eighth. But she understands, she is very smart,” Strange said.
“So to put her in charge of the team now that Tarryn is out, I didn’t have any doubt there that she can continue getting that team around how Tarryn was.”
Discussion about this post