Upton, Robinson send Origin message by topping grand final data

Broncos fullback Tamika Upton led the way with a speed and distance masterclass in Sunday's Telstra Women's Premiership grand final win over the Roosters.

Upton produced the top speed for the match and joined premiership-winning teammate Julia Robinson in covering the most distance during their side's 20-10 triumph at ANZ Stadium.

Upton's brilliance at fullback in Sunday's decider was typified by her support play in crossing for the Broncos' first try of the afternoon, where she hit a maximum speed of 29.7km/h on her way to the line.

She was closely followed in the speed department by Roosters winger Brydie Parker (29.2km/h), Shenae Ciesoilka (29.0km/h), Robinson (28.7km/h) and Tarryn Aiken, who produced a 28km/h dash before finding Upton in the third minute.

Upton's 5.5 kilometres covered also matched Robinson, with the pair in line to be rewarded with maiden selections in Queensland's State of Origin team for the Sunshine Coast clash on November 13.

Robinson's intensity (metres per minute) pipped Upton by one with an average of 98 – the second best game-high behind Broncos rake Lauren Brown, who produced a whopping 107 metres per 60 seconds.

Upton finished third at 97-metres-per-minute alongside Roosters playmaker Melanie Howard, with bench utility Quincy Dodd rounding out the top five.

Roosters winger Shanice Parker, who switched to the edge for the returning Botille Vette-Welsh, joined Upton for a game-high 16 high-speed efforts (efforts over 20km/h) during the match.

Aiken (12), Parker (11) and Robinson (10) completed the top five in that category.

Millie Boyle finished as the only forward in a top-five area for the match with 5.4 kilometres covered in the 60-minute performance after coach Kelvin Wright used just three of 10 interchanges throughout the afternoon.