‘That real hard edge’: Dual-code prodigy leads Queensland’s new era of NRLW stars

5 hours ago 3

Broncos NRLW superstar Tamika Upton has declared Reegan Hicks is in line to produce a breakout campaign, as the club seek to bounce back from their preliminary final exit last year.

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.

Tamika Upton has returned to the Broncos for the first time in four years, having moved home after a stint in Newcastle.

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.

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.”

Hicks will be joined by fellow teenagers Skyla Adams and Shalom Sauaso, with the pair already accomplished rugby union players before arriving at Red Hill.

Adams had been a regular member of the Queensland Reds before her full-time defection to rugby league, while Sauaso has juggled both codes – and was even called into the Wallaroos extended squad last year.

While she has only just turned 18, Sauaso developed a reputation in the Super Rugby Women’s for being one of the more clinical one-on-one defenders in the game, and Broncos coach Scott Prince told this masthead he was happy for her to play for both sports until they begin to intertwine.

“Someone her age being able to play at the highest level is phenomenal in itself,” Prince said, having also named her to make her NRLW debut off the bench on Saturday.

“Just with her work ethic and ability to adapt to the environment she’s in … she certainly has that capability of fitting into a professional environment.

“From my point of view, she can play anywhere – she can play in the middle, she at a pinch could go up front, but she has the speed and agility to play in the outside backs.

“She’s just got that real hard edge and willingness to work hard, and that’s a really good foundation to forge any career.”

Brigginshaw said such had been the way Sauaso and Adams had blended into the squad, they presented figures who bellied their tender ages.

“I don’t look at them as young players, they’re so mature and they’ve been in the system for a while,” Brigginshaw said.

Shalom Sauaso is being chased by multiple codes.

“With Shalom, she’s been in so many different teams that she knows what she’s doing, and she knows what to do when she gets here … [and] Skyla has come such a long way, she’s leading the team and jumping in where she can.

“She [Sauaso] treats her sport as a professional, so she trains extremely hard. She’s still got a lot to learn, I wouldn’t say she’s the perfect player, and she knows that and knows she’s got a lot to learn, but that’s where the older girls like to help them.”