Broncos coach Scott Prince has is hoping his star fullback Tamika Upton can unlock another level in her game as his side aims to put to bed the disappointment of last year’s preliminary final loss.
The Broncos host Upton’s former club Newcastle at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium on Sunday to see who will make it to the 2025 decider, with Prince admitting last year’s shock loss to the Sharks still burned.
“It's the fear of failure more so than anything, but ultimately at the end of the day, you're driven by that … we are not going to shy away from the fact that we've been in this position twice already and hopefully it’s third time lucky,” Prince said.
“(The team are) very hungry.
“It actually hurts to lose the last couple of years at this point.
“Thinking back, just having that feeling in the dressing room after is not a good feeling and I don't want to be there again.”
Last time they met: Broncos v Knights
Alongside minor premiers the Roosters, the Broncos have been the team to beat in the NRLW this year – only losing the one match to the Roosters – with many predicting the that the two sides seemed destined to meet on grand final day.
Key to the winning form of the Broncos has been the return of Upton to the club this year for personal reasons, with the representative star visually happy to be back in Queensland where she can be closer to family.
A two-time Karyn Murphy Medal winner with the Knights, Prince said he thought Upton still had more gears to go.
“When I came up here a couple of years ago, she was the first phone call I made to get her back home,” Prince said.
“She started here at the Broncos and I really wanted an opportunity to coach her.
"t felt like even though people see her at the top of her game, I just know she's got another one or two levels to go. I just really wanted to get hold of her in regards to coaching her.
“I know she'd fit in really well here at this club, knowing the way we play our football and just with her being a part of that, we can elevate not only our team, but also her own personal game.
“I think it's reflected with the way she's been playing and I don't think I've ever seen it across both men’s and women's programs how wonderfully she's been playing, picking up hat-tricks of tries – I think she scored four there in one game – but the fact that she's just lethal at any point with the attack, that's been a real strength of hers, but also us as a football team.”
Upton agreed she had yet to reach her peak and also praised the role her rival club this weekend, the Knights, played in her development.
“I learned a few things, more so about myself in Newcastle,” Upton said.
“I was away from family friends, so I grew up really quickly.
“I think even though I was a little bit older, I definitely still grew up a lot, but more so playing with different people, applying your strengths, getting the best out of other people.
“I think that's something I've really taken back to here as opposed to when I was young when I first played.
“That's probably something in these big games. Just doing something you're really good at doing that … for the team.”
Upton can't be stopped
The competition’s leading try scorer this year also gave credit to her teammates for helping her find her form this year, with Brisbane’s forwards in particular laying a platform for her to ‘do her thing’.
“I've really enjoyed playing with Jada Ferguson at nine,” Upton said.
“She’s so hungry to learn, and it's so good, always chatting to her.
“It's like she's so open-minded to try anything and we can tweak and change things on the run.
“Keilee Joseph at lock there, she's been incredible. The whole pack we have is incredible too.
“The fact I get to play behind that and just sort of doing my role and let the girls do their thing. I'm absolutely loving.
“We've got Netta [Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala] upfront, Biebs [Bri Clark] up front, Duzzi [Chelsea Lenarduzzi] off the bench and Shalom [Sauaso] has been incredible to play with.
“I just feel like my job as a fullback is to chime in when I'm needed.
“These girls lay such a platform in the middle for us, obviously loving linking with the edges as well, Robbo [Julia Robinson] and Mele [Hufanga].
“It's always quite incredible to think I'm on a team with them.
NRLW Best Moments - Finals Week 1
“At the end of the day, all I focus about is doing my role and that is set during the week by Princey.
“When it comes to the rest of the team, his game plan is so simple and so it leaves me a lot of room to work with.
“That’s something he's been doing this year; presenting all these different opportunities to me and I just have to recognise them and take them on the field.”
Match: Broncos v Knights
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Broncos
2nd Position
away Team
Knights
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
