NRLW: Maroons fullback Tamika Upton on track to becoming the greatest women’s player of all time

Queensland’s star fullback Tamika Upton has won it all, raising the question as to whether the unassuming star from Rockhampton has achieved GOAT status?

Australia, Maroons and NRLW star Tamika Upton. Picture: Getty Images

Maroons superstar Tamika Upton is on track to be the greatest women’s rugby league player of all time.

‘Freaky Meeky’ as she’s dubbed by teammates, has won it all.

At 27, Upton has won four premierships across five seasons in the NRLW with Broncos (2019, 2020) and Knights (2022, 2023), the Karyn Murphy Medal for best player in the grand final twice, a Dally M Medal and three of four State of Origin series with Queensland.

Across her entire NRLW career she’s had just four losses (only one in the past two years), and across club, state and international level, just seven games in total.

Ahead of Thursday night’s Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium, the question begs.

Could this unassuming girl from Rockhampton become the GOAT?

“I definitely think she can,” says Maroons teammate Lauren Brown.

Tamika Upton and Romy Teitzel of the Maroons celebrate after winning the 2023 women's State of Origin series. Picture: Getty Images

“There’ve been so many incredible players before us and she has definitely thrown her name in the mix now.

“There is no one near her.

“She is up there with the best in the game at the moment and there’s not many close seconds.”

Titans star Brown has seen up close when Upton is capable of, but she was on the receiving end of it in last year’s NRLW grand final when a piece of individual brilliance stole victory for Newcastle.

She scored two tries in the final eight minutes to snatch a 24-18 win, ending Gold Coast’s dream of a maiden premiership.

“I’ve been part of a lot of teams with her and she has done that to the opposition,” Brown says.

“That was the first time I was on the wrong side of it.

“I’m very happy to have her on my side again wearing the Maroon.

“We call her ‘Freaky Meeky’ for a reason. She is an absolute weapon no matter where she is.”

Tamika Upton in action for the Jillaroos. Picture: Getty Images

UNASSUMING STAR

Upton’s rapid success is the last thing Maroons coach Tahnee Norris expected when she first met a shy touch footballer at Burleigh back in 2019.

“I was lucky enough to coach her for a year at Burleigh just before the explosion on the scene at NRLW level,” Norris says.

“She’s always been an exceptionally tough football player but you could already see the skills, they were already there.

“It was only a matter of time to be honest. Yes, she’s a shy player from country central Queensland, but how much she’s grown with the footy IQ, the way she is as a leader has been second to none.

“That’s what we’ve noticed. In camp this year her leadership has been outstanding. I know she’s in leadership roles with the Knights, but it’s a part of her game that’s growing.”

The scary thing is, she keeps getting better.

“Off the back of what she did last year, she did some freakish things on the field,” Norris continues.

“She’s got a really high footy IQ. Her knowledge of the game and what she sees in the game is probably second to none.

“She’s getting better and better, and that’s the scary part about it.”

Tamika Upton has been deadly in the past for the Maroons. Picture: Getty Images

QUEENSLAND HERO

The Sky Blues don’t need to be warned about Upton’s danger ahead of a historic three-game Origin series, which is expected to smash attendance records for game one on Thursday night.

Three of her club teammates, Caitlan Johnston, Yasmin Clydsdale and Olivia Higgins are in the NSW team as they try to win back the shield following a strange end to last year’s two-game series.

NSW won game two in Townsville, but Queensland won based on aggregate scores.

“It was so weird. They won on the buzzer then we had to go up and celebrate,” Upton says.

“The fact there is three games now is unreal.

She sees it as a chance to prove Maroons are the real champions.

“That’s what we want to do,” she says.

“There’s no excuses now.

“It’s really exciting for our game. Each year, Origin has gotten better. It’s exciting where it can go.”