After a standout season where she was crowned the world’s leading player, Maroons back Julia Robinson has warned that her best is still yet to come.
As the IRL Golden Boot winner for her extraordinary exploits in an Australian Jillaroos jersey, Robinson took the game to the world in last year’s Pacific Championships with a try-scoring effort that went viral online after being shared by Matildas captain Sam Kerr.
Becoming the world's best! - Julia Robinson
Transitioning from wing to centre for the Broncos in the NRLW, Robinson just missed out on claiming the Dally M Medal as well, pipped by her Brisbane team-mate and Queensland captain Tamika Upton, the first woman to claim the award twice.
Preparing in camp together to take on New South Wales in the opening match of this year’s State of Origin series in Newcastle tonight, Robinson said the new-look team had been building together well.
“I feel like we've had such a good preparation .... us girls being in camp together with such an amazing coaching staff, I feel like we're ready to go," Robinson said.
"Obviously it's sad not having Tarryn [Aiken] in camp with the injury and then having Ali [Brigginshaw] retiring as well - she's always been such a big part of this team and she'll always be a big part of this team - but this year kind of feels refreshing in a way.
Inside Camp: Chantay Kiria-Ratu
"We've got heaps of young girls coming through, which is so exciting.
“I feel like we've just really connected as a group and as a team and we're building something really special leading into the series.
“I feel like the young girls in camp with us, it just shows the depth we have now in the Queensland team.
“They do have experience playing in some international teams and they've debuted already for their NRLW teams, so they definitely deserve their spot in this squad and I feel like they push us older girls as well.”
Part of the Maroons leadership group that also includes captain Tamika Upton, vice captain Lauren Brown and experienced forwards Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Romy Teitzel, Robinson was relishing the chance to help guide the new faces.
“For me, I do love like inspiring the young girls as well," Robinson said.
“The young girls and us senior girls, we can help each other.
“Us older girls, we try and help them with whatever they need and then the young girls push us because they're just so energetic.
“It make us keep working on ourselves, so it's really cool that we can have two different kinds of experience come together.”
Despite enjoying such a successful 2025 season that included winning the NRLW premiership with the Broncos, taking out the club's player of the year award and claiming the Pacific Championship title with the Jillaroos, Robinson was keen to achieve more this year.
“Last year was a pretty big year for me; it was such an amazing year, especially coming from winning the premiership and then having a good international series and receiving that Golden Boot," Robinson said.
“It’s a huge honour, but I feel like for me, that's never the end.
“I feel like every year I want to go into the next starting fresh and wanting to be better than what I was the year before.
“I feel like there's never a finish line for me, I just want to keep improving and getting better each year in every way.
“I feel like there's no end goal for me, it's just keep on pushing myself."
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Tickets to Game One of the Women's State of Origin series are selling fast. Get your tickets now to witness history live at McDonald Jones Stadium.
