Tom Opacic

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Tom Opacic
Tom Opacic.jpg
Opacic playing for the Broncos in 2014.
Personal information
Full nameThomas Opacic[1]
Born (1994-09-07) 7 September 1994 (age 27)
Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2016–18 Brisbane Broncos 19 5 0 0 20
2019–20 North Qld Cowboys 24 9 0 0 36
2021– Parramatta Eels 21 7 0 0 28
Total 64 21 0 0 84
As of 4 June 2021
Source: [2]

Tom Opacic (born 7 September 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League.

Background[]

Opacic was born in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia, and is of Serbian descent.[3]

He played his junior rugby league for the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Playing career[]

Early career[]

In 2013 and 2014, Opacic played for the Brisbane Broncos' NYC team,[4] before graduating to their Queensland Cup team, and his old junior club, Redcliffe Dolphins in 2015.[5]

2016[]

In Round 16 of the 2016 NRL season, Opacic made his NRL debut for the Brisbane club against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[6][7] In September, he re-signed with Brisbane on a two-year contract until the end of 2018.[8]

2017[]

Opacic failed to play a first grade game in 2017, after undergoing two shoulder reconstructions in the summer to treat injuries he suffered in the 2016 finals.[9] During Opacic's recovery, Tautau Moga became one of the first choice centres for Brisbane that year, relegating him to the Queensland Cup that season.

2018[]

The signing of Jack Bird, as well as the emergence of promising outside backs, Kotoni Staggs and Jamayne Isaako, meant that Opacic spent most of 2018 playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup competition. He scored his only try for the season, coming off the bench in Brisbane's 24-20 win against their rivals, the North Queensland Cowboys, in Round 2.[10] Opacic appeared in 10 games for the Brisbane club in the 2018 season, starting in six and coming off the bench in four.[11]

On 8 August, Opacic re-signed with the Brisbane side on a two-year deal but a month later was released by the club to sign with the North Queensland Cowboys until the end of 2020.[12][13]

2019[]

In Round 1 of the 2019 NRL season, Opacic made his club debut for North Queensland in their 24–12 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[14] Following a Round 2 defeat by Brisbane, Opacic was dropped to the Townsville Blackhawks.[15] Opacic returned to first grade in North Queensland's Round 8 win over the Gold Coast Titans. A week later, he scored his first try for the club in a 16–32 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[16]

After his early struggles, Opacic locked down the right centre position for the North Queensland club, playing the remaining 17 games, scoring seven tries and forming a dynamic partnership with winger Kyle Feldt.[17]

2020[]

In February, Opacic was a member of the Cowboys' 2020 NRL Nines winning squad.[18] Opacic played just five NRL games in 2020, scoring two tries, struggling to hold down a starting centre position. On 3 October, the North Queensland club announced that Opacic would be departing the club at the end of the season.[19] On 21 October, it was announced that Opacic had signed a one year deal with the Parramatta Eels.

2021[]

He made his debut for Parramatta in round 1 of the 2021 NRL season where the club recorded a 24-16 victory over Brisbane.[20]

In round 4, he scored two tries for Parramatta in a 36-22 victory over the Wests Tigers at Stadium Australia.[21]

Achievements and accolades[]

Team[]

Statistics[]

NRL[]

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[22]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2016 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane 9 4 0 — 0 16
2018 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane 10 1 0 — 0 4
2019 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland 19 7 0 — 0 28
2020 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland 5 2 0 — 0 8
2021 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 21 7 0 — 0 Career totals 64 22 0 — 0 68

References[]

  1. ^ NRL (31 May 2016). "Intrust Super Cup teams: Round 13". QRL. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Tom Opacic - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  3. ^ Badel, Peter (2 May 2015). "Brisbane Broncos rookie Tom Opacic wanted by Serbia for 2017 Rugby League World Cup bid". The Courier Mail. Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  4. ^ "O". Nyc Database. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. ^ NRL (3 March 2015). "Intrust Super Cup Rd 1 teams". QRL. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Updated team lists: Bulldogs v Broncos". NRL.com. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  7. ^ NRL. "Late Mail - Broncos v Bulldogs". Broncos. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  8. ^ Broncos.com.au (26 August 2016). "Broncos re-sign NRL rookies". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Brisbane gun to miss 2017 NRL season start".
  10. ^ "NRL highlights, result: Broncos vs Cowboys".
  11. ^ "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project".
  12. ^ "Why Broncos agreed to release Opacic to Cowboys". September 2018.
  13. ^ "Four more signings for Cowboys". 11 October 2018.
  14. ^ "NRL team list: Round 1 v Dragons". 12 March 2019.
  15. ^ "League player knocked out by ex-NRL hooker blames king hit on himself". 2 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Rabbits down the Cowboys, Roosters win to end Magic Round". ABC News. 12 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin".
  18. ^ "Nines final team list: Final v Dragons". 15 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Cowboys to farewell five departing players". NQ Cowboys. 3 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Brisbane Broncos' NRL losing streak continues as Parramatta Eels score comeback 24-16 win; Newcastle Knights beat Bulldogs". ABC News. 12 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Wests Tigers 22 Parramatta 36". ABC News. 5 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Tom Opacic - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project".

External links[]

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