The 2026 NRLW Grand Final between the Roosters and Broncos promises to be a cracker, as does the battle for Player of the Match honours. 

Also known as the Karyn Murphy Medal, the NRLW Grand Final Player of the Match award is named in honour of legendary Jillaroos captain and coach Karyn Murphy.

Last year’s medal went to Mele Hufanga who has since departed the Broncos, but there will be multiple other winners on the field this weekend such as Tamika Upton (2022, 2023), Tarryn Aiken (2024). 

This year's decider pits the minor premiers, Roosters, against the reigning champion Broncos, who finished third but arrive full of finals momentum. 

Below, we’ve outlined the leading contenders for POTM from both sides as well as a few under-the-radar options who could upset the apple cart. Here our our Karyn Murphy Medal 2026 predictions

Karyn Murphy Medal 2026 Predictions – The Favourites

Tarryn Aiken (Roosters Halfback #7)

Aiken claimed the Karyn Murphy Medal back in 2024 and knows exactly what it takes to dominate a decider. 

The Roosters halfback has been in career-best form throughout 2026, steering her side to 21 consecutive wins. 

She missed out on last year's finals charge, which makes this campaign all the more meaningful. 

With that hunger behind her and a spot in rugby league's biggest game up for grabs, Aiken looms as the player most likely to control proceedings from the halves and dictate terms against the Broncos.

Tamika Upton (Broncos Fullback #1)

Widely regarded as the greatest player in NRLW history, Upton has already won the Karyn Murphy Medal twice, in 2022 and 2023. 

She's chasing a perfect six from six in grand finals and leads the competition in try assists and linebreaks, while sitting second for tries and tackle breaks. 

Given her big-game pedigree, backing her always seems like a reasonable play. If the Broncos are to retain their title, Upton's fingerprints will likely be all over it.

Olivia Kernick (Roosters Lock #13)

Kernick has been a driving force in an undefeated Roosters outfit that averaged an eye-watering 39.45 points per game across the regular season, with an average winning margin of 28.9 points. 

Her work rate through the middle has laid the platform for the Roosters' attacking stars to flourish, and voters have rewarded forwards for exactly that kind of influence in the past. 

If the Roosters roll on that dominant form into the decider, Kernick's engine room efforts could earn her the recognition.

Karyn Murphy Medal 2026 Predictions – Under the Radar Options

Isabelle Kelly (Roosters Centre #4)

Kelly has been a key piece of the Roosters' unbeaten season and heads into the decider with a clear mindset. 

Her calmness under pressure, paired with her attacking instincts out wide, makes her a genuine outside chance to finish the game as the Roosters' most dangerous strike weapon and steal the Karyn Murphy Medal from the more heralded favourites.

Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos Five-Eighth #6)

There's no shortage of sentiment behind a potential Ali Brigginshaw Kayrn Murphy Medal win, with the veteran five-eighth playing her final NRLW game this weekend. 

The Broncos went 8-0 in matches she featured in, conceding 18 points or fewer in all 10 games she played, before a mid-season suspension triggered three straight losses. 

Brigginshaw herself has called this grand final "a really special moment," and after guiding the Broncos back to the decider, a fairytale send-off with POTM honours in hand would be the fitting farewell she deserves. 

Jesse Southwell (Broncos Halfback #7)

Southwell arrives at the decider needing just two points to break the NRLW record for most points scored in a season. 

That kind of consistent output from the halves has been central to the Broncos' finals run, and if she reaches the milestone during the game itself, the storyline could carry real weight with medal voters. 

A big performance from Southwell would also go a long way to helping the Broncos defend their crown.

With six genuine contenders across both sides, the 2026 Karyn Murphy Medal shapes as one of the more open in recent years. 

The Roosters' dominant season points to a big performance from Aiken or Kernick, while Upton's grand final track record makes her impossible to ignore at value odds. Don't discount the emotional pull of a Brigginshaw farewell either.

Head to Sportsbet for the latest Karyn Murphy Medal markets and get on board before the Roosters and Broncos clash at Accor Stadium this Sunday.

*Odds are subject to change. 

Karyn Murphy Medal 2026 Odds