Jessica Sergis is known for being fast, tough, and a star in women’s rugby league. Sergis has changed what it means to be a trailblazer in Australian sport. She scored a hat trick in her first State of Origin game and won the Dally M Medal, Golden Boot, and RLPA Player of the Year all in the same season.
There is more to her story than numbers. It’s a story of strength, family pride, worldwide fame, and an impact that goes far beyond the rugby field.
Jessica Sergis’s Early Years
Jessica Sergis was born on September 15, 1997, in Sydney to a close-knit Greek-Australian family. Jess’s dad and uncle ran the Coogee Randwick Wombats junior club, where she first learned how to play rugby when she was five.
Rugby was a family sport when I was a kid. Sergis had the support she needed to follow her dreams thanks to barbeques after training, cheering siblings from the sidelines, and a strong sense of cultural pride. But when she turned 12, the rules that said girls couldn’t play against boys suddenly stopped her.
She said, “I remember telling Mum and Dad, ‘I wish I was a boy—why can’t I be a boy?’ so I could keep playing. It was really hard to watch my brother play while I sat out.”
Instead, she kept her love of sports alive by playing AFL, rugby union, and Oztag. Later, a teammate named Corban McGregor talked her into trying out for the Cronulla Sharks. Sergis said, “I was this scared, little 19-year-old who hadn’t played in years, walking in with Allana Ferguson and Ruan Sims.” But I’m really glad I did it.
The Beginning of Jessica Sergis’ Career
- 2016: She played her first amateur game for the Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks.
- 2017: She scored three goals in her first State of Origin game for NSW, which they won 22–6.
- In 2018, she signed on as a marquee player with the St. George Illawarra Dragons for the first season of the NRLW and played in the Grand Final.
Sadly, she hurt her ankle that year, which kept her from playing rep footy. But she used the setback to drive her forward. She said, “That break made me hungrier than ever.”
Jessica Sergis in 2019 – Breakout Season
Jessica Sergis became one of the best players in the game during the 2019 season.
- Club stats: 3 tries, 1 try assist, 21 tackle breaks, and an average of 153 metres per game.
- Representative: Went back to the State of Origin and scored a key try in NSW’s win.
Prizes:
- The Dally M Medal is the highest individual honour in the NRLW.
- The first woman ever to win the RLPA NRLW Player of the Year award in 2019.
- Women’s Golden Boot (2019) puts her in the same league as some of the best rugby league players in the world.
Her first game with the Jillaroos was the best of the year: a World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in which she scored twice. This wasn’t just a breakout season; it was a supernova year that put women’s rugby league on the world stage.
Jessica Sergis and the Roosters from Sydney
Sergis signed with her hometown team, the Sydney Roosters, in 2021 and quickly became a fan favourite. That year, she helped the Roosters win the NRLW Championship.
The Grand Final in 2022 was a turning point. Sergis scored an 80-meter solo try to bring the Roosters back from behind Parramatta. This got Bondi fans fired up and is considered one of the best moments in NRLW history.
Jessica Sergis in the State of Origin
Jessica Sergis has been an irreplaceable player for the NSW Sky Blues. Her nickname, “Winx,” comes from the famous racehorse. Her speed has left defenders scrambling.
Career stats for State of Origin (up to 2025):
- 7 times
- Tries: 5
- 57.1% of the time they win
NRLW career stats (up to 2023):
- 22 times
- Eight tries
- 50% of the time you win
Her 2023 try against Queensland, in which she jumped over a defender while running, went viral around the world and inspired many young players.
Jessica Sergis at the Dally M Awards in 2025
Sergis stole the show at the Dally M Awards on September 30, 2025, when she wore a sheer black dress with a “underwear illusion.” She later said, “Beauty is pain—the dress almost fell apart 20 minutes before, and we fixed it with a clip.”
People had different opinions about the look online:
- Criticism: “She’s wearing a curtain,” “Might as well wear nothing at all,” “The AFL girls dress so much better than the NRL girls.”
- Others added: “He’s all class and then there’s that dress. There are better options out there.”
- Praise: PR queen Kaylah Collins stood up for her by posting, “I’m so for this.” A different fan said, “She looks great, no matter what the prudes say.”
Supporters praised the dress for being daring and new. One person said, “It was definitely a design challenge, and it worked to make what some people might call a masculine body more feminine.”
Jessica Sergis owned the red carpet, showing that her star power goes beyond the game, whether people liked her or not.
READ MORE: Jessica Sergis’ Dally M Gown Sparks Major Social Media Buzz
Jessica Sergis’s work as an advocate and role model
Sergis is a famous rugby league player and a supporter of women’s sports. As an ambassador for the National Women in Sport Initiative, she works to close the gaps in pay and opportunity between men and women.
- She points out that “1 in 2 girls drop out of sports by age 15.”
- She says a lot, “We work full-time, we play rugby league, and some of the girls are mums too—that’s three full-time jobs.” I’ll do the hard work now so the next generation doesn’t have to.
- Another strong quote from her: “I want to show you that you don’t have to do what is expected of you as a girl or woman.”
Her goal is for girls to see being a top athlete as a real career choice and a good investment, not just a hobby.
Jessica Sergis’s private life
Relationship: She is dating Tommy Talau, a winger for the Manly Sea Eagles, who is a well-known person. The couple bought an apartment on the beach in Maroubra in 2024.
Family: A family AVO dispute in 2023 got some media attention, but it was settled peacefully in 2024. Sergis put the State of Origin training camp ahead of court dates, which shows how dedicated she is to rugby.
Hobbies and strange things:
- A fan of Disney who quotes The Lion King a lot.
- People call her the “team diva” because she sings Whitney Houston songs at karaoke.
- A viral TikTok chef who is known for making Greek souvlaki.
- Once, she helped a fan jump-start a car battery outside Allianz Stadium, which went viral and showed how down-to-earth she is.
Jessica Sergis’s net worth and endorsements
It is thought that Jessica Sergis is worth between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
- Salary: One of the highest-paid NRLW players, making over $80,000 a year.
- Endorsements: Adidas and a number of fitness and activewear brands.
- Social media: More than 100,000 people follow you on Instagram.
- Other income comes from clinics, guest speaking events, and projects run by the Roosters Foundation.
She is also investing in real estate and plans to buy a home in Wollongong, where she played for the Dragons.
Jessica Sergis’s past and future
Jessica Sergis is no longer just an athlete; she is a cultural icon. Her line breaks are painted on walls in Sydney suburbs, and they inspire Greek-Australian youth and young women in sports.
Her 2019 Golden Boot win raised the profile of women’s rugby league around the world, especially in England and New Zealand, where it got more attention and recognition.
People have been talking about her retiring before she turns 30, which is often linked to her desire to start a family. However, Sergis has hinted at future roles in coaching, commentary, or advocacy. “We owe it to the women who came before us to keep pushing for the girls of this generation and the next,” she said at one point.
Final Thoughts
Jessica Sergis’s path from being kicked off the field at 12 to becoming a Dally M medallist, an international Golden Boot winner, and a Jillaroos star is a model for how women’s rugby league can grow. She is a symbol of strength, pride, and inspiration for future generations. Sergis is more than just a player; she’s a symbol of how far women’s sports have come and where they’re going next. Whether she’s dazzling in a match-winning try or starting a fight on the red carpet, she keeps proving this.
Questions and Answers About Jessica Sergis
Q1: How old is Jessica Sergis?
She was born on September 15, 1997, and is now 28 years old.
Q2: What role does Jessica Sergis play?
She mostly plays in the centre, but she has also done well at fullback.
Q3: What are the career stats for Jessica Sergis?
NRLW: 22 games, 8 tries, and a 50% win rate.
7 games, 5 tries, and a 57.1% win rate in State of Origin.
Q4: What prizes has Jessica Sergis won?
In 2019, he won the Dally M Medal, the RLPA Player of the Year award, the Golden Boot, and the NRLW Premiership with the Sydney Roosters.
Q5: Has Jessica Sergis ever played for the Jillaroos?
Yes, she has two Test caps and was on the team that won the World Cup for Australia.
Q6: Who is Jessica Sergis seeing?
Tommy Talau, a player for the Manly Sea Eagles, is her boyfriend.
Q7: How much money does Jessica Sergis have?
Her net worth, which includes her salary, endorsements, and property, is thought to be between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT US AT AUSTRALIANMAGAZINE