Vette-Welsh ‘in awe’ of Upton – but that won’t slow her down in prelim duel

Knights fullback Botille Vette-Welsh faces one of the biggest challenges in rugby league this Sunday, coming up against –and being tasked with dethroning – four-time premiership-winner Tamika Upton and her red-hot favourite Broncos.

Newcastle and Brisbane meet in the NRLW preliminary final on Sunday in what is very much a game of the round in rugby league circles, and Vette-Welsh knows the key to beating the Broncos lies in her personal duel with Upton. Forget the fact the New Zealand international came in after Upton in Newcastle; she’s simply playing the game’s very best.

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“‘Meeks’ is ‘the man’ and has been ‘the man’ at the back for many, many years,” Vette-Welsh told NRL.com heading into the mouthwatering match-up. “She’s the pinnacle, and every one of us should be looking at her to improve our game and be at the same standard.”

She continued, pointing to Upton’s everlasting talents: “Yeah, I don’t have the same strengths as her, and I’ve got to use what I do have to my advantage and be able to do my job for the girls on the weekend, and that’s all I have to focus on.

“Someone like her, she will bring the best out of not just me in my position, but everyone.”

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And – none of that matters once the two step onto the field, though, Vette-Welsh declared. “I can look on and be in awe of the things that she’s been doing this season, but once I’m on the field and up against her, none of that matters. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to go up against the best. You get nowhere being comfortable or being complacent.”

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The Knights do come up against the best on Sunday, not only with Upton, but all across the park. The Broncos have been faves to make the final since early doors, with most tipping them to meet Sydney in the big dance.

But, Vette-Welsh doesn’t think it’s set in stone by any means – and she plans to prove it.

“As soon as you get into finals footy, everything that’s happened earlier on in the year doesn’t matter,” she said.

“You come into these spaces, and it’s a whole new ball game. So yep, we are the underdogs, and the Broncos have been very dominant, along with the Roosters, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any better than what we can deliver on.

“If we play a good 70 minutes, we’re disciplined, complete our sets, and hold the ball, we’ll be sweet.”