That was the best way to sum up Simone Smith's NRL Holden Women's Premiership debut with the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park on Saturday.

"We didn't have that much ball, so you may as well say that's what it was," Smith said.

The tricolours fumbled their way through most of the game, completing just four sets in the opening half to trail only 10-0 at the break.

Their ball control improved fractionally in the second half, but their first half effort had taken too much out of them as they succumbed to a comprehensive 20-0 defeat at the hands of defending premiers Brisbane.

"It was probably nearly the most tackles I've made in my life, but I was stoked we didn't let a lot of tries come down our edge," she said.

With the Roosters struggling to get out of their own half, it was difficult for the Kempsey product to make an impression at halfback.

"We always hope to have debuts where we win and it's amazing, but it was surreal that I got to experience it at all and I never thought it would happen this quickly," she said.

"Regardless of the outcome, I reached a dream and no one can take that away from me.

"It wasn't how every player who makes their debut plans for it to be, but I knew what we were up against and it's hard when you're on the back foot.

"I'm not the biggest fan of playing in the rain so I knew it was going to be tough, but sometimes things don't go your way."

The loss left the Roosters' season on life support, but they were handed a lifeline when the Dragons defeated the Warriors.

It now means they must beat the Dragons on Sunday, hope the Broncos defeat the Warriors and then make up the 34 points' difference between themselves and the Red V to book their place in the grand final on October 6.

"We lost our way a bit, but I think we can bounce back," Smith said.

"I probably made a few little errors and was quieter than usual but that was the way the game went.

"I can learn a lot out of it and be better if I get a chance next week."

The former Port City Group 3 league tag star said while it was a less than ideal debut, it was a learning curve.

Sometimes you don't lose, you learn.

"Sometimes that's footy and you can't win them all," she said.

"With every game there comes a price you've got to pay and I guess we didn't pay the price on the day and hopefully next week we can do a lot better job on the Dragons.

"Sometimes it feels great to always be winning, but the good thing about it is that it sucks short-term but you'll always be better for it.

"You learn more this way than succeeding and getting everything right, but either way I'm happy I got to run out on the field and get through without any injuries."