Queensland Touch Football (QTF) are proud to announce NRLW Brisbane Broncos star Tamika Upton as our newest Brand Ambassador — a partnership that celebrates Tamika’s commitment to inspiring future athletes and represents the opportunities touch football provides.
For four-time NRLW Premiership holder and Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton, touch football is where her sporting journey began. Inspired by watching her own parents play and coach touch football growing up, Tamika started playing touch as soon as she could hold a footy.
“Playing touch is one of my earliest sporting memories. I wouldn’t have been older than five,” Tamika Upton said.
Tamika Upton has walked the full pathway in touch football, from representing her local club every year at Junior State Cup (JSC) from 9 years old, to wearing some of the most prestigious jerseys at the highest level.
Tamika’s natural talent and love for the game saw her progress through the junior ranks with Emerald Touch Association in the 10s and 12s at JSC, before representing Rockhampton Touch for the 14s, 16s, and 18s divisions. She also proudly represented the Central Queensland Bulls multiple times at both junior and senior level at The Championships (formerly NTL’s) — a special experience made even more meaningful by sharing the field with her mum and sister.
Tamika’s performances as a junior eventually led to standout achievements at the elite level in touch football, including representing Queensland at State of Origin and the Australian Emus at a Trans-Tasman series.
When asked about her most memorable moment playing touch, Tamika says wearing the maroon takes first place.
“At the competitive level, pulling on that Queensland jersey for State of Origin in 2016 and 2018 was a huge highlight for me.”
Now wearing a different QLD jersey as a 5-time representative for Queensland Rugby League (QRL) in the NRLW State of Origin, Tamika credits her touch football background for shaping not just her skills, but her character.
“I never thought I’d be in this position coming from Central Queensland, and I’m very proud of my roots. Touch football has played an important part of my development as a person and player,” Tamika said.
“Playing multiple touch tournaments and teams a year takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Playing with lots of different people and working with different coaches, you learn to be adaptable but also how to be a good person and teammate.”
“There are so many positive things which have come from being involved in touch and I want to be able to share those with the next group of kids coming through,” Tamika said.
From learning to pass at a small touch club in Central Queensland to setting up tries for the NRLW on national television, Tamika’s journey perfectly illustrates the opportunities that await in touch football. But Tamika believes that touch offers something for everyone—whether you’re chasing a career as an elite athlete or simply want to have fun exercising with friends.
“I want kids to know there’s a genuine pathway from touch football to the NRLW if that’s what you want to do,” Tamika said.
“But at a simpler level, I want to play a role in encouraging kids to be active and play touch football, whether socially or competitively.”
Queensland Touch Football welcomes Tamika Upton on board to help champion the sport and inspire the next generation to get involved in touch football and discover where the game can take them.
