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Newly appointed Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons co-captain Tamika Upton is confident the team is primed to meet their counterparts in Women’s State of Origin Game I on Thursday.
With last year’s Game I loss at Suncorp Stadium still a bugbear, despite going on to win the series, the flying fullback said the opportunity to start strong at home this year was one that was too good not to capitalise on.
“We were obviously very disappointed last year with Game One, particularly because we had this opportunity at Suncorp,” Upton said.
“They came out hot, so it was quite hard to stop and credit to them in that first game, but we’re doing a lot of prep to get ready for this game and we’re going to have a really good week in the lead up.
“It’s definitely not lost on us how special it is to run out at Suncorp.”
Upton, who has laced up her boots eight times for the Maroons since debuting in 2020, said getting to run out as co-captain with stalwart Ali Brigginshaw – as voted by teammates - made the nod and the occasion even more special for her.
“Obviously it’s really special for me... we all voted as a group so to know that the players think that as well is probably the most special part about it,” Upton said.
“I love playing for Queensland. I love what we do here as a group and just really excited for the week.”
The 28-year-old, who already has four premierships with the Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights, and the 2023 Dally M medal to boot, said the fact that Norris and her teammates put her in this leadership role, noting she was something they wanted to play with, was an honour.
“I think that’s the reason why you play sport to be honest… it is for me anyway… you play for your teammates and you make the best of friends and that’s what we have here,” Upton said.
“I was pretty shy when I first started… when we get on the field it’s very different… it’s my job to be loud and to talk.
"But I think over the last few years I’ve just become a bit more comfortable in my own skin and know what I’m good at and I just try and bring out the best in other people, and along with that comes a lot of chat, a lot of connection with the players, so it’s always something I strive to do.”
Re-joining the Broncos from the Knights for season 2025, Upton, who tore it up for the Jillaroos in Vegas at the beginning of the year, said it was nice to be home in Queensland where she was closer to family.
“I’ve come back home… it’s pretty special, it feels like old times,” Upton said.
“I left, I moved away from home… it was a massive step for me, moving away from my family… I feel like I grew as a person off the field and on the field. Grew into more of a leader.
“I’ve come back a whole different person. It was a very good experience and I look back and I’m so grateful for that and the people that I had around me (in Newcastle). I’ve just come back a completely different person.”
Upton said “I feel like when you’re thriving off the field, everything on the field becomes easier”, noting having a supportive family helped enormously.
“They’re still in Rocky cheering for me… I already feel that, but just to be able to physically go home on the weekends now and have them up for Easter is very special,” Upton said.
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 1 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Outside of the week that is, Upton said the scheduling of Origin, without playing BMD Premiership and not during the NRLW season, meant players needed to work harder individually to be ready to go.
“The way the women’s game is at the moment and the scheduling, you just have to be adaptable… we prepped and got ready individually for Vegas and coming off the back of that, you have to prep again for this,” Upton said.
“I feel like I’ve done a few pre-seasons already.
"I’ll be thankful for that later in the year, but at the moment, with the scheduling, you just have to be adaptable.
“I feel like both sides – all the women that are playing in this series – we’re very harsh on ourselves and the quality we put forward in the games…
"I know we were a bit disappointed a few years ago with the quality of the first game because we didn’t have much footy so players have taken it upon themselves in terms of their own individual prep.
“You can’t come in underdone at all. It’s the best of the best and it’s proven to get faster each year. It’s a lot of work, but it’s what you want to do."
