Tamika Upton named co-captain on return to Broncos
Tamika Upton has been appointed co-captain on her hotly-anticipated return to Brisbane.
Often regarded as the NRLW's best player, the fullback will join Ali Brigginshaw in skippering the Broncos this season, the first of her new three-year deal.
"With co-captaincy, you can bring out each other's strengths, you can work as a team and bounce off each other," Upton said.
"I'm comfortable in my own skin now and I think that helps with this role.
"'Princey' (coach Scott Prince) has put a good base together with this team in the last few years, so I have quite an easy role to just slot in and bring my strengths to it."
The leadership role comes after Upton earned a release from the final three years of her Newcastle deal to return to Queensland and be closer to family.
The 2023 Dally M Medallist won the 2019 and 2020 premierships with the Broncos before joining the Knights, with whom she won two more.
Now that she is back, Upton insists she and veteran Hayley Maddick can co-exist in the same 17.
Maddick has made the Broncos' fullback spot her own since Upton left, starting in the No.1 jersey in 25 of her 28 games and earning a State of Origin debut for Queensland this year.
"How she's played the last few years has been incredible," Upton said.
"I still think there's a spot for both of us. Who knows where that will be.
"No spots are guaranteed in this team, you have to work for it, you have to fight for it. You have to put your best out there on the training field."
Tamika Upton has been appointed co-captain on her hotly-anticipated return to Brisbane.
Often regarded as the NRLW's best player, the fullback will join Ali Brigginshaw in skippering the Broncos this season, the first of her new three-year deal.
"With co-captaincy, you can bring out each other's strengths, you can work as a team and bounce off each other," Upton said.
"I'm comfortable in my own skin now and I think that helps with this role.
"'Princey' (coach Scott Prince) has put a good base together with this team in the last few years, so I have quite an easy role to just slot in and bring my strengths to it."
The leadership role comes after Upton earned a release from the final three years of her Newcastle deal to return to Queensland and be closer to family.
The 2023 Dally M Medallist won the 2019 and 2020 premierships with the Broncos before joining the Knights, with whom she won two more.
Now that she is back, Upton insists she and veteran Hayley Maddick can co-exist in the same 17.
Maddick has made the Broncos' fullback spot her own since Upton left, starting in the No.1 jersey in 25 of her 28 games and earning a State of Origin debut for Queensland this year.
"How she's played the last few years has been incredible," Upton said.
"I still think there's a spot for both of us. Who knows where that will be.
"No spots are guaranteed in this team, you have to work for it, you have to fight for it. You have to put your best out there on the training field."
Tamika Upton has been appointed co-captain on her hotly-anticipated return to Brisbane.
Often regarded as the NRLW's best player, the fullback will join Ali Brigginshaw in skippering the Broncos this season, the first of her new three-year deal.
"With co-captaincy, you can bring out each other's strengths, you can work as a team and bounce off each other," Upton said.
"I'm comfortable in my own skin now and I think that helps with this role.
"'Princey' (coach Scott Prince) has put a good base together with this team in the last few years, so I have quite an easy role to just slot in and bring my strengths to it."
The leadership role comes after Upton earned a release from the final three years of her Newcastle deal to return to Queensland and be closer to family.
The 2023 Dally M Medallist won the 2019 and 2020 premierships with the Broncos before joining the Knights, with whom she won two more.
Now that she is back, Upton insists she and veteran Hayley Maddick can co-exist in the same 17.
Maddick has made the Broncos' fullback spot her own since Upton left, starting in the No.1 jersey in 25 of her 28 games and earning a State of Origin debut for Queensland this year.
"How she's played the last few years has been incredible," Upton said.
"I still think there's a spot for both of us. Who knows where that will be.
"No spots are guaranteed in this team, you have to work for it, you have to fight for it. You have to put your best out there on the training field."
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