Even in those miserable weather conditions we saw for Magic Round, Tamika Upton manages to find a level above everyone else.

On a wet weekend with plenty of dropped ball, Tamika was just a class above everyone else on the field as the Broncos beat the Sharks 28-14, with three tries to the brilliant Brisbane fullback.

It’s almost like she trains in the rain, just for games like that.

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It reminded me of Hazem El Masri’s goalkicking; he once shared a story of how he would look for opportunity to practise when the weather turned, just so he knew what to do if the moment required that in a game. I couldn’t help but wonder if Tamika is the same.

She even handles the mud better than everybody else. She handles the rain better. Her two final tries both came from messy short kicks, yet showed elite awareness to gather the ball safely and score.

Tamika was so good on a wet track in Newcastle that you could only wonder how. She looked right at home, back at McDonald Jones Stadium scoring tries in a different jersey.

What a player – and with that hat-trick, she became the equal top tryscorer in NRLW history, while Julia Robinson’s try gave her a new record for the Broncos.

A tough one for the Sharks, compounded by the loss of captain Tiana Penitani-Gray to a head knock, which will keep her out of this weekend’s derby against the Dragons.

TITANS-BULLDOGS MAKE NRLW HISTORY

The first draw in NRLW history! It made for a remarkable start to Magic Round and there was plenty of exciting footy in the 14-all result despite the extremely wet conditions.

I really felt that this was a test for the Titans, to see if they’d genuinely gotten themselves out of an early-season slump. At half-time it looked very much their game, yet with 10 minutes to go I couldn’t see how they were going to win it. I guess the jury is still out – and they probably needed the two points there, with old rivals the Roosters looming this weekend.

Natasha Penitani deserves a rap both for an impressive first-half try and her impact in the Gold Coast pack; she’s been a good addition, bringing presence and workload off the bench. Jess Ellison once again delivered huge run metres (191) at prop.

We saw again that the Bulldogs aren’t great starters but tend to be able to finish games strongly. They came out firing in the second half and Tayla Preston’s kicking game was pivotal to their comeback, in which Elizabeth McGregor scored either side of both half-time and a Monica Tagoai four-pointer. Shannon Muru deserves some credit for that one after forcing a turnover with a big hit on Georgia Grey a few minutes earlier.

The stage was set for Preston and Titans’ pressure-cooker queen Lauren Brown to deliver a golden point win for their side… yet neither could. With both teams hovering around the bottom of the finals spots, it’ll be interesting to see what that one extra competition point that eluded them means come season’s end.

ROOSTERS GET EVEN SCARIER AS AIKEN RETURNS

After Jess Sergis and Isabelle Kelly scored within the first 10 minutes, there were scary signs of a cricket score from the Roosters. Wests Tigers showed great tenacity to hit back with an Emily Bass try and momentarily stick with them, but this Roosters side is just too good and ran out 34-4 victors.

The return of Tarryn Aiken, and how it went, is terrifying for the rest of the competition. She looked really smooth in the No.7 jersey, without overplaying her hand, and slotted in seamlessly after her injury lay-off. Corban Baxter looked sharp at fullback, having shifted out of the halves, while Jocelyn Kelleher’s kicking game was impressive from five-eighth.

In a good way, I actually didn’t notice Tarryn too much. It seems like once that machine of a team fires up she simply weaves in and it’s like, ‘Yep, here are the Roosters, here they go’. With due respect, it was probably a good thing that she got to have that initial hitout against the Tigers, given they’re winless.

Whatever combination the Roosters put out, they set the standard. They now know that whatever happens to their side this season with injuries, they’ve got a ready-made response with their roster depth. Few clubs can boast that and it has to fill them with confidence.

CLASSY WARRIORS NO.6 LEADS BIG WIN

The Cowboys tend to be underestimated and entered their game against the Warriors in fourth spot. They left it the same way, but without the two points and now a win down on second and third.

That was terrific from the Warriors, beating a top-four side in their first season back in the competition. They just never gave in with their defensive pressure and showed a lot of mongrel, sticking it out to keep North Queensland scoreless after a ninth-minute try to Rosie Kelly and win 12-6.

Ivana Lauitiiti opened the Warriors’ account on debut, followed by a try to Payton Takimoana for the win. Patricia Maliepo was outstanding at five-eighth and has been pivotal for them this season, leading them around nicely along with Emily Curtain at halfback. And I thought Metanoia Fotu-Moala was great at prop on the weekend, making some powerful runs to rip through 99m in just 28 minutes.

Credit to Jakiya Whitfield and Fran Goldthorpe for cracking the 200 run-metre mark for the Cowboys in a loss, but it’s back to the drawing board ahead of a swing game against fifth-placed Parramatta this weekend.

RAIDERS REGAIN SOME DIGNITY AFTER SPRAY

Canberra coach Darrin Borthwick had a real crack at his team after the previous round, saying that some of his players were just happy to be there and not turning up when it mattered. His side at least had a crack for him after that, holding a decent Newcastle outfit to nil-all at half-time.

I couldn’t believe it. The Raiders actually played a really consistent, tough first half of rugby league and tested the Knights. They walked off that field with some dignity, thanks to a much better performance in an 18-0 loss. I reckon that was their best effort of the year and while getting held scoreless isn’t great, they responded to their coach’s criticism.

Jesse Southwell just found another gear for the Knights, lifting her side in the second half. Remarkably, she still hasn’t missed a goal-kick all season after going 3/3 in the wet.

It wasn’t a great first half from Newcastle but with another win and sitting in third, they keep reminding us that they’re a quality side even without Tamika Upton.

CAN SURPRISE RETURN HALT DRAGONS SLIDE?

Former NSW Origin half Maddie Studdon at five-eighth for the Dragons this weekend – how about that? St George Illawarra are reeling after losing Raecene McGregor to suspension alongside four other omissions – including the in-form Margot Vella – so at least it’s a bit of experience alongside Kasey Reh in the halves.

Add to the fact that Emma Verran (nee Tonegato) is still out and it feels like this is a huge game for the Dragons against Cronulla this weekend; one that could mark the start of a downhill slide if they’re not careful, given they’re already down in ninth. It’ll be a high-stakes derby against the eighth-placed Sharks.

I thought Parramatta did well to beat the Saints 12-10, coming back in the final 15 minutes to earn their first-ever win over the Dragons. Elsie Albert was outstanding and duly rewarded with an amazing try, while Fleur Ginn scored a winner that she made look easy.