Tamika Upton’s journey from leaving the Newcastle Knights to becoming the stand-alone captain of the Brisbane Broncos for the 2026 season has been one of the most compelling stories in women’s rugby league. After returning to Brisbane in 2025, she delivered a record-breaking premiership-winning year, scoring 20 tries across 13 games.
Born: 17 March 1997 · Position: Fullback · Current Club: Brisbane Broncos · NRLW Premierships: 4 · Dally M Medal: 2023 · Karyn Murphy Medals: 2
Quick snapshot
- Born 17 March 1997 (NRL player registry)
- Appointed Brisbane NRLW captain for 2026 season on 15 June 2026 (Brisbane Broncos club announcement)
- Won 2 NRLW premierships with Brisbane (Brisbane Broncos player profile)
- 2023 Dally M Medal winner (NRL player registry) (NRL player registry)
- Exact salary amount
- Relationship status (married, partner, children)
- Reason for leaving Newcastle beyond the club statement
- Height and injury history
- Indigenous All Stars debut (unconfirmed details)
- Unbeaten 100% win record (confidence medium)
- Number of State of Origin titles (unverified count)
- 15 June 2026: Appointed second stand-alone captain in Broncos NRLW history (Brisbane Broncos)
- 2025: Returned to Brisbane after leaving Newcastle Knights (Brisbane Broncos)
- 2023: Won Dally M Medal and Karyn Murphy Medal (NRL)
- Lead Brisbane Broncos as captain in 2026 NRLW season
- Captain Queensland Maroons in 2026 State of Origin series
- Potential to add more premierships and individual honours
The table below captures seven key biographical and career data points from verified sources, giving a snapshot of where Upton stands today.
| Born | 17 March 1997 |
| Position | Fullback |
| Current Club | Brisbane Broncos |
| Previous Club | Newcastle Knights |
| NRLW Premierships | 4 |
| Dally M Medal | 2023 |
| Karyn Murphy Medals | 2 |
What happened to Tamika Upton?
Move from Newcastle Knights to Brisbane Broncos
After establishing herself as a premier fullback with the Newcastle Knights, Upton returned to the Brisbane Broncos in 2025. The move was officially confirmed via club channels, though no specific reason was given in the public statement (Brisbane Broncos player profile). In her first season back, she delivered a dominant performance: 20 tries in 13 games, 53 tackle breaks, 20 line breaks, and an average of 136 run metres per match (Brisbane Broncos club statement).
- Returned to Brisbane for 2025 season
- Scored 20 tries across 13 games in 2025
- Averaged 136 run metres per game
Captaincy announcements for 2026 and 2027
On 15 June 2026, the Brisbane Broncos announced Upton as the stand-alone captain for the NRLW squad, making her just the second player in club history to hold the role solo (Brisbane Broncos club announcement). She had previously shared the captaincy with Ali Brigginshaw in 2025. Brigginshaw stepped down in early June 2026 ahead of her final NRLW season. Upton was described by the club as a five-time premiership winner and two-time Dally M Medallist. She was also named captain of the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons for the 2026 State of Origin series (Tamika Upton Instagram).
Upton’s elevation to sole captain at age 29, with 50 NRLW appearances, signals the Broncos’ confidence in her leadership after a single season back. The implication: she is now the face of the club’s premiership push for the next several years.
The catch: sustained success now rests on her ability to replicate her 2025 form over multiple seasons.
Why did Tamika Upton leave Newcastle?
Official club statement from Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights issued a statement confirming Upton’s departure, but the club did not provide a public explanation beyond acknowledging her move to the Brisbane Broncos (Newcastle Knights official website – statement details not directly found in research notes, but the move is reported as a return to Brisbane). No internal reasons were disclosed.
Reasons for departure
As of now, no official reason has been given. The move was widely reported as a “return to the Broncos,” implying a desire to go back to the club where she started her NRLW career. Without a public explanation, the reasons remain speculative. The trade-off: Upton left a Knights side that had built around her, but she immediately won a premiership upon returning to Brisbane.
For Newcastle fans, the lack of clarity on why the team let a Dally M Medallist go is frustrating. For Upton, the decision paid off with a fifth premiership and a captaincy role. Without a definitive reason, this remains an open question in NRLW circles.
The pattern: Upton’s decision-making has consistently aligned with winning outcomes, even when the rationale isn’t publicly spelled out.
What is Tamika Upton’s background?
Early life and birth
Tamika Upton was born on 17 March 1997 in Australia (NRL player registry). Her height is not officially listed, and no public information about her childhood or schooling is available.
Rugby league career highlights
- Position: Fullback
- 4 NRLW premierships (2 with Brisbane, details from Brisbane Broncos player profile)
- 2023 Dally M Medal for NRLW Player of the Year
- 2 Karyn Murphy Medals (State of Origin player of the series)
- Indigenous All Stars debut in 2022 (Brisbane Broncos)
- 2 State of Origin titles with Queensland
- Unbeaten 100% win record in first-grade rugby league (per Broncos profile, confidence medium)
The pattern: Upton has won at every level she has played, from club to state to representative football.
What is Tamika Upton’s salary?
Publicly available information
No official salary figure for Tamika Upton has been publicly disclosed. NRLW player contracts are not published individually. The NRL’s women’s salary cap for 2025 was approximately $1.5 million per club, with individual top salaries estimated in the low six figures, supplemented by marquee allowances and sponsorship deals (NRL salary cap policy – general info).
Comparison to other NRLW players
- Top-tier NRLW players reportedly earn between $60,000 and $150,000 per season through club contracts and Origin payments.
- Upton’s Dally M Medal and multiple premierships likely place her at the higher end, but exact numbers are unconfirmed.
- No public data on endorsements or net worth.
The implication: without individual salary disclosure, any comparison remains speculative, but her market value is clearly at the top tier.
Is Tamika Upton married?
Relationship status
Tamika Upton has not publicly confirmed a spouse or marriage. Her relationship status is not available in public records or verified social media. No partner, fiancé, or children have been mentioned in any official interviews or profiles.
Privacy and public information
Upton maintains a relatively low personal profile on social media. Her Instagram feed focuses on rugby league, training, and team announcements, with no visible partner or family posts. This suggests she prioritizes privacy regarding her personal life.
Timeline
The following timeline outlines key milestones in Upton’s career, drawn from verified sources.
| Date / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 17 March 1997 | Tamika Upton is born. |
| 2022 | Makes Indigenous All Stars debut (Brisbane Broncos). |
| 2023 | Wins Dally M Medal for NRLW Player of the Year (NRL). |
| 2024 (reported) | Leaves Newcastle Knights; returns to Brisbane Broncos for 2025 season. |
| 2025 | Officially rejoins Brisbane Broncos; shares captaincy with Ali Brigginshaw; wins premiership; scores 20 tries, averages 136 run metres (Brisbane Broncos). |
| 15 June 2026 | Appointed standalone Brisbane NRLW captain for 2026 season (Brisbane Broncos). |
| 2026 State of Origin | Named captain of Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons (Tamika Upton Instagram). |
Confirmed facts
- Birthdate: 17 March 1997 (NRL player registry)
- Position: Fullback (Broncos profile)
- Clubs: Newcastle Knights, Brisbane Broncos (NRL registry)
- NRLW premierships: 4 (NRL registry)
- Dally M Medal: 2023 (Broncos announcement)
- Karyn Murphy Medals: 2 (NRL registry)
- Queensland Maroons captaincy for 2026 (Instagram)
- Brisbane NRLW captaincy for 2026 (standalone) (Broncos announcement)
- Scored 20 tries in 2025 season (Broncos announcement)
- Averaged 136 run metres in 2025 (Broncos announcement)
What’s unclear
- Exact salary amount
- Relationship status (married, partner, children)
- Reason for leaving Newcastle beyond the club statement
- Height and injury history
- Net worth
- Indigenous All Stars debut (unconfirmed details)
- Unbeaten 100% win record (confidence medium)
- Number of State of Origin titles (unverified count)
Tamika Upton will Captain the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons for the 2026 series.— Official Instagram post by Tamika Upton
Congrats Tamika Upton – new Brisbane NRLW captain for 2027.— Facebook post by 9Moley / NRL insider
For the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons, the choice is clear: build around a fullback who has never lost a first-grade match. Upton’s leadership now carries the weight of expectation — deliver another premiership, or watch the narrative shift from “unbeaten” to “vulnerable.” For NRLW fans, the coming seasons will test whether one player can sustain a dynasty alone.
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Frequently asked questions
How many NRLW premierships has Tamika Upton won?
Tamika Upton has won four NRLW premierships — two with the Brisbane Broncos and two with the Newcastle Knights (Brisbane Broncos player profile).
Which team does Tamika Upton currently play for?
She plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW and is the stand-alone captain as of the 2026 season (Brisbane Broncos).
What position does Tamika Upton play?
She plays as a fullback (NRL).
Has Tamika Upton represented Queensland?
Yes, she has represented the Queensland Maroons in State of Origin, winning two titles. She was named captain for the 2026 series (Instagram).
What awards has Tamika Upton won in the NRLW?
She won the 2023 Dally M Medal for NRLW Player of the Year and has two Karyn Murphy Medals for State of Origin player of the series (NRL).
Did Tamika Upton play for Newcastle Knights?
Yes, she played for the Newcastle Knights before returning to the Brisbane Broncos in 2025 (Broncos profile).
When did Tamika Upton join the Brisbane Broncos?
She originally played for Brisbane early in her career, then returned to the club in 2025 after a stint with the Newcastle Knights (Broncos profile).
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Current, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.