‘That real hard edge': Dual-code prodigy leads Queensland's new era of NRLW stars
Upton, largely regarded as the game's leading woman, will assume Brisbane's co-captaincy alongside Ali Brigginshaw in 2025, having cast aside the hip injury that cost her a place in Queensland's game three State of Origin side.
While the former Dally M Medal winner described her time in rehab as a 'blessing' in a chaotic year which had included a trip to Las Vegas with the Jillaroos, she kept an eye on the Broncos' developing talent who loom as the future faces of the game.
Hicks – who has been named as 19th woman for the Broncos' opening round clash with the Tigers – came to the front of Upton's mind when asked who was set to become an NRLW household name.
The edge forward fresh off scoring the first try in the Maroons' 26-10 defeat to New South Wales in the under-19s State of Origin clash.
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The 18-year-old managed five appearances in her maiden Queensland Cup campaign for North Devils last year – her sole loss coming in the grand final – but Upton hinted there could be various roles in her future.
'She's been absolutely incredible. Just from the first couple of months of meeting her and how far she's come with the training, she's been jumping into most positions,' Upton said.
'I think someone that's hungry like that and willing to learn and do whatever it takes, I think she has a big future ahead.'
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The Advertiser
25 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Broncos' top-four charge is on as Mam leads comeback
Ezra Mam has engineered a Brisbane comeback for the ages, keeping the Broncos in the race for the NRL top four with a 22-18 win over Canterbury. On a Friday night when the Bulldogs' halves picture grew even murkier, Brisbane scored four tries in the final 20 minutes to win the game after trailing 18-0. Booed with every touch of the ball at Accor Stadium, Mam was at the centre of it all as he laid on three perfect passes late to mask over a poor Brisbane first half. The result kept the Broncos within two wins of the top four and the injury-stricken Warriors, and marked their second victory over Canterbury this year. Down on confidence and strike a month ago, the Broncos have now won four straight after also overhauling a 16-point deficit against Cronulla last month. But for 60 minutes on Friday, this looked like it would be anything but a good night for a Broncos side fielding two debutants. Selwyn Cobbo had a nightmare first half at fullback, while halfback Adam Reynolds sent two kicks out on the full and had another charged down. Canterbury never looked at their absolute best either, with Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton in the halves, and Matt Burton shifted to centre. But at 18-0 after 60 minutes and with Canterbury on the attack, it looked as if the Bulldogs had done enough to move back, momentarily, to the top of the ladder. Enter Mam. The five-eighth breathed life back into the Broncos when he made use of some broken play, shrugged off two defenders and sent Josiah Karapani over. Five minutes later he again created havoc on the left, laying on a beautiful cut-out ball to put centre Delouise Hoeter between two defenders and make it 18-10. Billy Walters also starred after doing likewise against Cronulla a fortnight ago, scoring a crucial try when he deceived Connor Tracey out of dummy-half. Then it was Mam again who produced the match-winner, juggling a ball before this time going short to second-rower Brendan Piakura to put him across. Mam has been the most controversial figure in rugby league this year after his nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system. But after being Queensland's 18th man for State of Origin II, he was the difference on Friday night. "The way Reyno (Reynolds) and Ezra are coming together, they are starting to grow together a bit," coach Michael Maguire said. "Ezra took the game on. I saw Reyno talk to him at halftime about what they needed to do, and he went out there and did it.'' Cobbo also had two big plays late in his first NRL game in five weeks, after a nightmare first half when the Dolphins-bound star failed to clean up two kicks in the lead-up to Bulldogs tries. Filling in at fullback, he and Deine Mariner first let Burton chase through on his own kick and score. Another then came when a Galvin bomb was allowed to bounce, and Viliame Kikau strolled over. For Canterbury, the loss left more questions than answers about their halves after Burton was shifted to the centres with Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz in NSW camp. Galvin and Sexton played on both sides of the ruck, but the Bulldogs were constantly guilty of pushing too many passes and searching for points. Several balls also went down on Galvin's left edge, as he and Burton struggled to find cohesiveness down that side. "We were trying to land knockout punches when we got some good ball," coach Cameron Ciraldo said. "The Broncos were defending well, and I think we just got frustrated and handed the ball over way too cheaply. "We were trying to force it too much." Ezra Mam has engineered a Brisbane comeback for the ages, keeping the Broncos in the race for the NRL top four with a 22-18 win over Canterbury. On a Friday night when the Bulldogs' halves picture grew even murkier, Brisbane scored four tries in the final 20 minutes to win the game after trailing 18-0. Booed with every touch of the ball at Accor Stadium, Mam was at the centre of it all as he laid on three perfect passes late to mask over a poor Brisbane first half. The result kept the Broncos within two wins of the top four and the injury-stricken Warriors, and marked their second victory over Canterbury this year. Down on confidence and strike a month ago, the Broncos have now won four straight after also overhauling a 16-point deficit against Cronulla last month. But for 60 minutes on Friday, this looked like it would be anything but a good night for a Broncos side fielding two debutants. Selwyn Cobbo had a nightmare first half at fullback, while halfback Adam Reynolds sent two kicks out on the full and had another charged down. Canterbury never looked at their absolute best either, with Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton in the halves, and Matt Burton shifted to centre. But at 18-0 after 60 minutes and with Canterbury on the attack, it looked as if the Bulldogs had done enough to move back, momentarily, to the top of the ladder. Enter Mam. The five-eighth breathed life back into the Broncos when he made use of some broken play, shrugged off two defenders and sent Josiah Karapani over. Five minutes later he again created havoc on the left, laying on a beautiful cut-out ball to put centre Delouise Hoeter between two defenders and make it 18-10. Billy Walters also starred after doing likewise against Cronulla a fortnight ago, scoring a crucial try when he deceived Connor Tracey out of dummy-half. Then it was Mam again who produced the match-winner, juggling a ball before this time going short to second-rower Brendan Piakura to put him across. Mam has been the most controversial figure in rugby league this year after his nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system. But after being Queensland's 18th man for State of Origin II, he was the difference on Friday night. "The way Reyno (Reynolds) and Ezra are coming together, they are starting to grow together a bit," coach Michael Maguire said. "Ezra took the game on. I saw Reyno talk to him at halftime about what they needed to do, and he went out there and did it.'' Cobbo also had two big plays late in his first NRL game in five weeks, after a nightmare first half when the Dolphins-bound star failed to clean up two kicks in the lead-up to Bulldogs tries. Filling in at fullback, he and Deine Mariner first let Burton chase through on his own kick and score. Another then came when a Galvin bomb was allowed to bounce, and Viliame Kikau strolled over. For Canterbury, the loss left more questions than answers about their halves after Burton was shifted to the centres with Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz in NSW camp. Galvin and Sexton played on both sides of the ruck, but the Bulldogs were constantly guilty of pushing too many passes and searching for points. Several balls also went down on Galvin's left edge, as he and Burton struggled to find cohesiveness down that side. "We were trying to land knockout punches when we got some good ball," coach Cameron Ciraldo said. "The Broncos were defending well, and I think we just got frustrated and handed the ball over way too cheaply. "We were trying to force it too much." Ezra Mam has engineered a Brisbane comeback for the ages, keeping the Broncos in the race for the NRL top four with a 22-18 win over Canterbury. On a Friday night when the Bulldogs' halves picture grew even murkier, Brisbane scored four tries in the final 20 minutes to win the game after trailing 18-0. Booed with every touch of the ball at Accor Stadium, Mam was at the centre of it all as he laid on three perfect passes late to mask over a poor Brisbane first half. The result kept the Broncos within two wins of the top four and the injury-stricken Warriors, and marked their second victory over Canterbury this year. Down on confidence and strike a month ago, the Broncos have now won four straight after also overhauling a 16-point deficit against Cronulla last month. But for 60 minutes on Friday, this looked like it would be anything but a good night for a Broncos side fielding two debutants. Selwyn Cobbo had a nightmare first half at fullback, while halfback Adam Reynolds sent two kicks out on the full and had another charged down. Canterbury never looked at their absolute best either, with Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton in the halves, and Matt Burton shifted to centre. But at 18-0 after 60 minutes and with Canterbury on the attack, it looked as if the Bulldogs had done enough to move back, momentarily, to the top of the ladder. Enter Mam. The five-eighth breathed life back into the Broncos when he made use of some broken play, shrugged off two defenders and sent Josiah Karapani over. Five minutes later he again created havoc on the left, laying on a beautiful cut-out ball to put centre Delouise Hoeter between two defenders and make it 18-10. Billy Walters also starred after doing likewise against Cronulla a fortnight ago, scoring a crucial try when he deceived Connor Tracey out of dummy-half. Then it was Mam again who produced the match-winner, juggling a ball before this time going short to second-rower Brendan Piakura to put him across. Mam has been the most controversial figure in rugby league this year after his nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system. But after being Queensland's 18th man for State of Origin II, he was the difference on Friday night. "The way Reyno (Reynolds) and Ezra are coming together, they are starting to grow together a bit," coach Michael Maguire said. "Ezra took the game on. I saw Reyno talk to him at halftime about what they needed to do, and he went out there and did it.'' Cobbo also had two big plays late in his first NRL game in five weeks, after a nightmare first half when the Dolphins-bound star failed to clean up two kicks in the lead-up to Bulldogs tries. Filling in at fullback, he and Deine Mariner first let Burton chase through on his own kick and score. Another then came when a Galvin bomb was allowed to bounce, and Viliame Kikau strolled over. For Canterbury, the loss left more questions than answers about their halves after Burton was shifted to the centres with Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz in NSW camp. Galvin and Sexton played on both sides of the ruck, but the Bulldogs were constantly guilty of pushing too many passes and searching for points. Several balls also went down on Galvin's left edge, as he and Burton struggled to find cohesiveness down that side. "We were trying to land knockout punches when we got some good ball," coach Cameron Ciraldo said. "The Broncos were defending well, and I think we just got frustrated and handed the ball over way too cheaply. "We were trying to force it too much."
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Broncos pull off ‘great escape' as Bulldogs self-destruct
The Broncos overcame a horror first half to pull off the heist of the season and stun the Bulldogs thanks to three moments of magic from five-eighth Ezra Mam, who was booed every time he touched the ball. The visitors are now well and truly in the hunt for a top-four spot after leaving Accor Stadium with a 22-18 victory when it looked at one stage like they would lose by 40. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > The Broncos were dead and buried when Matt Burton slotted a penalty goal to put the hosts up 18-0 early in the second half, but some Mam brilliance turned the game on its head as Brisbane crossed four times in the final 20 minutes to steal the win. 'That's the great escape. These are grand final like celebrations,' Dan Ginnane said on Fox League. 'They've come from the clouds,' Cooper Cronk said. The Bulldogs' collapse left the Fox League panel in shock. 'I'm in disbelief over what just happened,' Greg Alexander said while Mick Ennis added: 'They completely self-destructed the Dogs … it just fell apart'. The Broncos couldn't have played any worse in the first half as Selwyn Cobbo struggled in his return to first grade, but the undermanned Broncos still had Mam who took it upon himself to steal the win. The classy five-eighth got the ball rolling when he found Josiah Karapani with a long ball, with the winger dancing through to score a stunner from near halfway. Mam then played short to set up journeyman Delouise Hoeter for a try five minutes later, before Billy Walters burrowed over from close range to bring them within two. A Kotoni Staggs break should have resulted in a Broncos penalty from wide out, but it mattered little as Mam played short to send Brendan Piakura over for the winner with seven minutes to go after he passed an early HIA. An hour before kick off, Lachlan Galvin was promoted to the Dogs' starting side with Matt Burton shifting into the centres. For the first try, Galvin combined with Connor Tracey and Marcelo Montoya down the short side off a scrum to create space, with Montoya diving over in the corner. Burton scored the Bulldogs' second try after an outstanding chip and chase from 30 metres out. 'Not too many players can do that,' Cooper Cronk said in commentary. Montoya's pass in the lead up was also a highlight. The Bulldogs winger kept the play alive on tackle five after collecting an errant pass and when he was tackled, kept it alive again with a miraculous flick pass over his head. BIG HITS HALF MEASURES Friday's shock result cost the Bulldogs any chance of finishing the round in first spot, with their second-half fadeout set to leave coach Cameron Ciraldo furious given his side should have been able to defend the lead. Next year's halves situation may be looking a lot clearer with confirmation Toby Sexton is off to the Super League, but the playmaker conundrum for the rest of 2025 remains a mystery after the Bulldogs pulled a late switch on Friday night. Ciraldo declared on Thursday that his plans for Lachlan Galvin wouldn't be influenced by the same people who questioned his side's recruitment strategy, but the mid-season recruit did end up starting on the same day that Sexton's move to join Catalans in 2026 was confirmed. While the halfback won't be there next year, he still remains a key figure this season, with the only question who will partner him in the halves. Matt Burton was named at five-eighth after finally not being the NSW 18th man, but he started at left centre thanks to a late reshuffle that saw Galvin start in the halves. Both men had their moments – Burton scored and Galvin had some joy with his kicking game – but they didn't combine well in attack on a night that didn't provide Ciraldo with the answers he would have wanted. OH NO COBBO Cobbo's first game since round 13 couldn't have gone any worse with the Broncos fullback at fault for two tries on a night that justified Michael Maguire's decision to drop him to reserve grade. The former Maroons star had been out for a month but got his chance with Reece Walsh and Gehamat Shibasaki away on Origin duty, but it was a night to forget for the young man who is off to the Dolphins in 2026. Cobbo and Deine Mariner failed to clean up a kick which allowed Burton to score, while he didn't catch a Galvin bomb which ended up with Viliame Kikau crashing over. He also sent a kick-off sailing out on the full and fumbled a ball when the Broncos had a rare attacking opportunity which could see him sent straight back to reserve grade. He wasn't the only one who struggled with skipper Adam Reynolds kicking out on the full twice, sending a grubber dead and having another one charged down before he nailed some clutch goals to seal the win.
ABC News
7 hours ago
- ABC News
NRL live updates: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos, NRL Round 18
The NRL's second-ranked Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs take on the in-form Brisbane Broncos at the Sydney Olympic stadium, with both sides missing Origin stars. Meanwhile, Toby Sexton is confirmed to be leaving the Bulldogs, signing with Super League's Catalan Dragons for the 2026 season, giving high-profile signing Lachlan Galvin a free run at the halves position. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
