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Tamika Upton

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Tamika Upton
Personal information
Born (1997-03-17) 17 March 1997 (age 27)
Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight64 kg (10 st 1 lb)
Playing information
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–21 Brisbane Broncos 12 7 0 0 28
2022– Newcastle Knights 16 12 0 0 48
Total 28 19 0 0 76
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2020–21 Queensland 2 2 0 0 8
2022 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP
As of 7 October 2023

Tamika Upton (born 17 March 1997) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her position is fullback. She previously played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW, CQ Capras and Burleigh Bears in the QRL Women's Premiership.[1][2][3][4]

Background

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Born in Rockhampton, Upton grew up in Central Queensland and first started playing rugby league as a child in Blackwater.[4] She is of Indigenous Australian descent.[5]

Prior to her career as a rugby league player, Upton played touch football.[6] She represented the Australian national side, the Emus, during the 2017 Trans Tasman series.[7] She also served as co-captain of the Queensland Cowboys during the NRL Touch competition in 2017.[8] Upton has also played netball for local Central Queensland team, the Capricorn Claws.[9]

Playing career

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In 2018, she joined the Yeppoon Seagulls' women's side, where she played in five-eighth in the Rockhampton District competition.

2019

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On 15 July, Upton signed with the Brisbane Broncos NRL Women's Premiership team.[10] In Round 1 of the 2019 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Broncos, starting on the wing in a 14–4 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[11] On 6 October, she started at fullback in the Broncos' 30–6 Grand Final win over the Dragons.[12]

On 7 October, Upton was named in the Australian team for the 2019 World Cup 9s but withdrew and was replaced by Tarryn Aiken.[13][2]

2020

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In February, Upton played for the Broncos at the NRL Nines, where she was named in the Team of the Tournament.[14] In March, Upton joined the Central Queensland Capras in the QRL Women's Premiership and later played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Holcim Cup.[15]

In Round 1 of the 2020 NRL Women's season, Upton scored a hat-trick in the first half for the Broncos in their win over the New Zealand Warriors at GIO Stadium.[16][17] On 25 October, Upton started at fullback and scored a try in the Broncos' 20–10 Grand Final win over the Sydney Roosters.[18]

On 13 November, Upton made her State of Origin debut for Queensland, scoring two tries in a 24–18 win over New South Wales.[19]

2021

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In 2021, Upton joined the Burleigh Bears in the QRL Women's Premiership, starting at fullback and scoring two tries in their Grand Final win over the Valleys Diehards.[20][21] On 25 June, she started at fullback for Queensland in their 8–6 win over New South Wales.[22]

On 29 June, Upton re-signed with the Broncos for the 2021 NRL Women's season.[23]

2022

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On 18 May 2022, the Newcastle Knights announced the signing of Upton and Millie Boyle ahead of the 2022 NRL Women's season.[24][25] Upton made her club debut for the Knights in round 1 of the 2022 NRLW season against her former club the Brisbane Broncos.[26]

In the 2022 Semi Final against the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Upton became the first Knights player to score more than one try in a game, when she scored two tries in the Knights' 30-6 win to qualify them for the Grand Final.[27] Upton would be awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal when she was named player of the match in the 2022 NRL Women's Grand Final, scoring a try in the Knights' 32–12 victory over the Parramatta Eels.[28] The victory was Upton's third premiership title.

Upton was named in the Australian squad for the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup, but withdrew from the squad due to injury.[29]

2023

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In April, Upton re-signed with the Knights on a contract until the end of 2027.[30] Upton won the Dally M Medal (Player of the Year) as well as a second Karyn Murphy Medal (Grand Final Player of the Match) after back to back premierships with the Knights.[31][32]

References

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  1. ^ Official Telstra Women's Premiership profile of Tamika Upton for Brisbane Broncos, Brisbane Broncos. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Newton, Alicia (9 October 2020) Upton won't say no to rep jerseys again with Maroons, Jillaroos calling, NRL.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  3. ^ Walsh, Sean (27 August 2020) A set of six with... Tamika Upton, Souths Logan Magpies. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Edwards, Colleen (31 January 2020) Tamika takes every opportunity in her stride, Queensland Rugby League. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Indigenous side too slick for TFA All Stars". NRL. 13 February 2015.
  6. ^ Allen, Steph (15 November 2018) Rocky woman returns from touch Origin victorious, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  7. ^ Allen, Steph (3 May 2018) Rocky footy stars defeat Kiwis in Trans Tasman clash, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  8. ^ McKay, Pam (5 April 2017) Upton plays way into Aussie women's open team, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  9. ^ (5 December 2017) Claws name 19-member squad after weekend trials, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Origin rising star Millie Boyle joins Broncos NRLW". Brisbane Broncos. 15 July 2019.
  11. ^ "NRLW Team List: Round 1 v Dragons". Brisbane Broncos. 10 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Broncos Make Change For NRLW Grand Final". Brisbane Broncos. 6 October 2019.
  13. ^ (7 October 2019) Australian Women's 9s squad, NRL.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  14. ^ NRL Nines Perth Team of the Tournament, NRL.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  15. ^ "CQ Capras women to play in new statewide comp". The Morning Bulletin. 17 December 2019.
  16. ^ Newton, Alicia (3 October 2020) Tamika Upton takes Broncos to first win, Brisbane Broncos. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  17. ^ McKay, Pam (6 October 2020) Rocky star fires for Broncos NRLW opener, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Upton, Robinson send Origin message by topping grand final data". NRL. 28 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Queensland Maroons beat New South Wales Blues 24-18". ABC. 13 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Round 3 preview: Sibling rivalry for Upton sisters". QRL. 28 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Burleigh claim epic grand final win against Diehards". qrl.com.au. 6 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Maroons v Sky Blues: Peters, Harden late call-ups; NSW 1-17". nrl.com. 25 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Premiership NRLW Stars Return To Lead Broncos". broncos.com.au. 29 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Teams: NSWRL Harvey Norman Women's Premiership - 2020 Round 2". League Unlimited. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Results: 2020 NSWRL Harvey Norman Women's Premiership Round 2". League Unlimited. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Late Mail: NRLW team confirmed for Broncos clash". Newcastle Knights. 21 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Knights book Grand Final spot after stunning Dragons at Suncorp". National Rugby League. 25 September 2022.
  28. ^ "2022 Premiers: Knights down Parramatta to earn historic NRLW title". newcastleknights.com.au. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Boyle and Upton withdraw from World Cup". newcastleknights.com.au. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Upton to spearhead Knights NRLW charge into the future". Newcastle Knights. 11 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Upton claims second Karyn Murphy Medal to go with fourth title". National Rugby League. 1 October 2023.
  32. ^ "NRLW 2023, Newcastle Knights, Tamika Upton named NRLW Dally M Medal winner | Knights". Newcastle Knights. 27 September 2023.
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