Brisbane have surged into second place on the ladder after four consecutive wins, but Romy Teitzel believes this weekend’s match against two-time reigning premiers Newcastle will be their biggest test so far.
“Newcastle's won the last two premierships, so they still probably sit at the epitome of the team to beat at the moment,” the in-form Broncos forward said.
“They're leading into this game with a lot of momentum, and so are we, and there's an NRL game beforehand, so I'd imagine there's going to be a big crowd down in Newcastle.
"They're very passionate fans, and they definitely won't be cheering for us.
“A few people have spoken that they've lost a few middles, and they're probably not the team that they were last year, but any team with Tamika Upton and Jesse Southwell and the likes, they're very creative team, they've still got a big middle and they've got experience.
“I think winning premierships, you gain a lot of confidence from that, and they're still, yeah, a very good team."
The Queensland Maroons representative is particularly familiar with playing at McDonald Jones Stadium after she captained the inaugural Newcastle Knights side in 2022 and went on to win a premiership with them the following year before signing a three-year deal with the Broncos last season.
For Teitzel, this game is less about facing off against her former team mates, with her focus more on building on her side's already growing confidence and utilising the momentum to take their game to the next level.
“We know that Meeks (Tamika Upton) is probably the best player in the game at the moment and she can make something out of nothing, so the crowd's going to be behind them,” Teitzel said.
“They're going to absolutely love that ... and everyone loves playing the Broncos, no matter if it's in the men's or women's space, and it's going to be no different come this weekend going down to Newcastle.
“Playing my old team and playing up against your mates, I think it just makes it a little bit better. I think with any sport, you ride the highs and lows and I definitely did that in Newcastle.
“I was very lucky to win a premiership there, which is a goal in any person that plays rugby league and it was great for me, but I'm at Bronco now and I want to win a premiership here."
Teitzel credited her team’s recent run of strong form to the culture they have built over the past two years, as well as the consistency in the performances the team's outside backs have been putting on each week.
Winger Julia Robinson and centre Mele Hufanga are leading the competition in tries, line breaks and run metres, while Teitzel herself is currently sitting in top spot for goals kicked and points scored.
“I think the culture is a big thing that builds our rugby league teams and this year we have a really good culture,” Teitzel said.
“I think that's a big thing from coming back last year with a similar roster, we're all best friends and it makes a little bit easier when you go out on the field with your mates. I think that's something that's club-wide here at the Broncos.
“We've had a few big wins over the last few weeks and a lot of that goes to the back five in starting our sets really strong.
“You start every set with a back five run, and Stacey (Waaka) and Robbo (Robinson) have been running close to 200 metres every single game, I think they're topping the whole NRLW stats at the moment, so setting the platform like that, it makes our job so much easier as a middle to roll up the field and we have great edges to complete those sets and gain points.
“Going down to Newcastle to McDonald Jones Stadium, we know it’s going to be a big test, but we've played good footy in the last few weeks and I think (the Round 6 win against the Cowboys) was probably one of our best.
"Leading into this weekend, we should be alright”.
NRL.com
