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'Deserved it': coach spray turns Broncos' season around
Joel Gould, AAP • September 17th, 2026 8:12 am
Brisbane's 2025 premiership-winning coach Scott Prince got a response from his team after a spray | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Old school Brisbane stars Tamika Upton and Romy Teitzel insist an emotive halftime spray by coach Scott Prince was the catalyst for a return to form after a mid-season slump.
The defending premiers host Newcastle in an NRLW elimination final on Saturday at Langlands Park on a three-game winning streak, straight after losing three matches on the trot.
Their last loss was a 28-20 defeat on the Gold Coast and at halftime, trailing 14-4, Prince was captured on film laying down the law in no uncertain terms.
Romy Teitzel is ready to rip in against ex-club Newcastle after home truths from Brisbane's coach | Photo: AAP
"We are a great team with great standards and we weren't living up to them. We deserved every single word that he threw at us," Teitzel said.
"The response comes from having a lot of respect for Princey and believing in his game plan. Everything is driven from that respect factor and believing in what he is trying to drive here at the Broncos."
The response has been stellar since, with the Broncos beating Parramatta 44-10 and St George Illawarra 24-16. A home 52-18 thrashing of the Warriors was just the tonic leading into finals.
Upton, the skipper of the side, said Prince told the players home truths they needed to hear.
"We had a few little things we had to fix and we weren't doing it, hence the Princey blow-up," Upton grinned.
"To be honest, we are used to it. He is a very passionate coach. That's the thing, we are all competitors. I would rather him be yelling at us than not speaking to us.
"Honestly, you feel that because he was a player. When he is talking like that you feel the energy, and you respect that a lot because he has been there and done it before. He wouldn't do it if he didn't care. I respond to that."
Brisbane stars Romy Teitzel (left) and Tamika Upton (right) are glad to have a passionate coach | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Prince, who coached the team to the title last year, played 300 NRL games in a stellar career. Teitzel said that she understood exactly where he was coming from.
"Any publicity is good publicity in our sport and gets some eyes on the women's game," she said.
"It shows how passionate he is. People have got to remember as well that Princey was a player and understands what it is like to be out there.
"Sitting in the box I can only imagine how frustrated he must be, and how much he wants to jump out on the field and play for us."
Brisbane captain Tamika Upton (left) and Newcastle counterpart Kayla Romaniuk are ready for battle | Photo: PR
Teitzel and Upton both won the 2022 premiership at the Knights, with Upton also backing up in the club's 2023 title win before returning to the Broncos with great success.
There is a sense Brisbane's premiership defence is back on track.
"We are building well and it is something we spoke about after three losses in a row," Upton said.
"We really needed to learn some lessons and fix some patches, and I think we have been successful in doing that and all in perfect timing."
