NRLW Legends Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter Announce Retirement

Sydney Roosters stars Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter have announced their retirements from the NRLW at the end of the current finals series. The duo, influential figures in the competition, confirmed on Wednesday that this season would be their last.

Elliott, 28, had been expected to play for Australia at the end-of-year World Cup, but has decided to prioritise her growing family after having a child last year. Her decision to retire is a shock, given her recent success with the Roosters.

Baxter, 32, has also starred for the Roosters, but felt her body was finding it hard to keep up with the demands of the game after returning from a serious ACL injury last year. An emotional Baxter said she had made the call to retire after a long and successful career.

Both players have been stars of the NRLW since its second season in 2019, with Baxter missing the opening four-week competition through a shoulder injury. Elliott is the first player to win premierships at three clubs and has also had one of the loudest voices in the growth and direction of the competition.

"In a little while we'll look back and realise how significant this time was and the inception of the NRLW," Elliott said.

"When the competition came in, let's be honest no-one really cared. I'm not sugarcoating it."

"But the fact we're sitting here in a press conference room, we've got State of Origin where we have millions of people tune in."

"We go to a footy game and people know who we are; that's just crazy."

Elliott won two premierships at Brisbane in 2019 and 2020, before taking a title at Newcastle in 2022 and another at the Roosters in 2024. The Roosters are currently unbeaten this year, headed into the finals with their only defeat in the past two seasons coming in the 2025 decider against Brisbane.

"The Roosters are going to be strong for a very long time because of that foundation that we've built and I'm proud of that," she said.

"What I love is seeing the ones in our systems really thriving from playing football from a young age and coming through and playing with us now."