Full Breakdown
Tamika Upton Targets Sixth NRLW Title and Potential Immortal Status
By Drooid · · How we work
Upton Pursues Sixth Premiership and Immortality
Three-time Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton is set to chase an unprecedented sixth NRLW premiership when the Brisbane Broncos meet the Sydney Roosters in the Sunday grand-final decider. A victory would also give her a possible third Karyn Murphy Medal and intensify debate over whether she could become the first female Immortal of the sport. The article reporting this was published on October 1, 2026.
Season Performance Highlights
Upton secured her third Dally M award after a season in which she led the competition with 20 line breaks and 20 try assists, scoring 15 tries—second only to Roosters’ Jessica Sergis. Her teammate Jesse Southwell topped the 2026 season for points (114), line engagements (80), and line-break involvements (13), while also ranking third for line-break assists (18) and leading the league with 78 tackle busts.
Supporting Voices
Upton emphasized that personal accolades are secondary to winning, noting that preseason reflections sometimes make her question retirement but the team’s effort keeps her motivated. Jesse Southwell reiterated her focus on the upcoming Broncos match, dismissing any thoughts of a Sevens-rugby switch. Retiring Broncos great Ali Brigginshaw called for the NRL to accelerate professionalisation, pointing to the rapid transition of Sevens star Teagan Levi as evidence of the benefits a full-time system can bring.
Data & Statistics
- Line breaks (Upton): 20
- Try assists (Upton): 20
- Tries (Upton): 15
- Points (Southwell): 114
- Line engagements (Southwell): 80
- Line-break involvements (Southwell): 13
- Line-break assists (Southwell): 18 (tied third)
- Tackle busts (Southwell): 78
- Contract expiry (Upton): end of 2027
What’s Next
The Broncos’ chance to defend their 2025 title hinges on the Sunday showdown. A win would not only add a sixth premiership to Upton’s résumé but also place her third Karyn Murphy Medal within reach, further bolstering her case for future Immortal recognition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don’t really think about that [the accolades], to be honest, it’s just winning. When we sit down and get into our preseason, that’s the main goal … while I’m still playing, I’m a player and no better than anyone else on the field, and no different to anyone else on the field,” — Tamika Upton
- “None of those thoughts have happened; at the moment I’m just focusing on playing for the Broncos and playing this weekend,” — Jesse Southwell
- “I think coming out of the professional system at Sevens, you saw even with Teagan Levi how that can help,” — Ali Brigginshaw