Upton homeward bound after picking Broncos over Queensland rivals

Tamika Upton is all set to return to the Brisbane Broncos after agreeing to a three-year deal with the Red Hill powerhouse, a decision that saw her have to turn down lucrative offers from Queensland rivals the Cowboys and Titans at the same time.

Upton was granted an immediate release from the Newcastle Knights – and the remaining three years of her contract with the Hunter club – on compassionate grounds.

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The 27-year-old, widely regarded by many to be the very best in the women’s game, wanted to move back to her family in Rockhampton – which set up the threeway shootout between Brisbane, North Queensland, and the Gold Coast. The Cowboys, who she turned down first, were always the longest odds to score her signature.

Upton called the Titans coach Karyn Murphy on Wednesday to tell her the Broncos suited her better.

She played for the Broncos early in the NRLW, winning two premierships in 2019 and 2020.

Midway through her rise with the Brisbane powerhouse, Upton earned her spot in the Queensland State of Origin team. She has yet to relinquish that representative jumper on merit (though injury has stopped her a few times) and she’s played eight Origin matches through 2020 to 2024. The superstar fullback has also racked up five Test caps for the Jillaroos.

The Broncos have instantly become NRLW favourites for 2025 with Upton’s return.

After being granted a release from the Knights soon after her private request, Upton wrote on social media that the New South Wales club – where she won two further NRLW titles in 2022 and 2023 – would “always have a special place in my heart.”

“This has been very difficult for me, because of how much I have loved representing the Knights and being part of the Hunter community.”

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She continued: “I am very grateful to Philip Gardner and Peter Parr for their understanding and support, I’m very proud of what we have been able to achieve together over the past three years.”