Upton first to win NRLW player of year award twice
Tamika Upton becomes the first two-time NRLW player of the year winner, while Nathan Cleary wins his second award.
Tamika Upton has claimed her second consecutive RLPA player of the year award, making her the first player ever to win the honour twice in the women's league. The Broncos fullback finished the regular season with 20 try assists, 20 line breaks and 20 line break assists, leading the league in the first two categories.
Nathan Cleary, the Panthers halfback, won his second player of the year award, with his first coming in 2020. Nathan Cleary becomes the third player to win multiple player of the year titles, after James Tedesco and Johnathan Thurston, who have each won four times.
Upton said the recognition meant a lot. "You go out there and battle a lot of these girls, and it's nice to know that respect goes both ways," she told Nine's 100% Footy.
Upton is preparing to lead the Broncos' back-to-back charge at the NRLW title.
- 20
- Try assists
- 20
- Line breaks
- 2020
- Cleary's first award
- 4 each
- Tedesco and Thurston wins
Why it mattersUpton's dual award marks a milestone for women's rugby league and recognises the quality of her game at the sport's highest level.
AustraliaBoth winners are Australian rugby league stars heading into finals, with Upton chasing a second consecutive NRLW premiership.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
