Tom Opacic

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.

Tom Opacic
Opacic playing for the Broncos in 2014.
Personal information
Full nameThomas Opacic[1]
Born (1994-09-07) 7 September 1994
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 0 0 0 0 0
Total 43 14 0 0 56
As of 25 September 2020
Source: [2]

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, before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.

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 Broncos against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[6][7] In September, he re-signed with the Broncos on a 2-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 the Broncos 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 the Broncos' 24-20 win against their rivals, the North Queensland Cowboys, in Round 2.[10] Opacic appeared in 10 games for the Broncos in the 2018 season, starting in six and coming off the bench in four.[11]

On 8 August, Opacic re-signed with the Broncos 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 the Cowboys in their 24–12 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[14] Following a Round 2 defeat by the Broncos, Opacic was dropped to the Townsville Blackhawks.[15] Opacic returned to first grade in the Cowboys' 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 Cowboys, 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 Cowboys 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.

Achievements and accolades

Team

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[20]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2016 Brisbane 940—016
2018 Brisbane 1010—04
2019 North Queensland 1970—028
2020 North Queensland 520—08
Career totals 43 14 0 — 0 56

References
  1. NRL. "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. "Brisbane Broncos rookie Tom Opacic wanted by Serbia for 2017 Rugby League World Cup bid". Couriermail.com.au. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  4. "O". Nyc Database. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. NRL. "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. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/brisbane-gun-to-miss-2017-nrl-season-start
  10. https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/nrl-brisbane-broncos-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-round-2/9659b59e-6440-45c5-82b5-c5b4d84bc312
  11. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/MS0xNzE3LTQtLS0tLS0yMjc4NC0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0=
  12. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/01/bennett-reveals-why-broncos-agreed-to-release-tom-opacic-to-cowboysf/
  13. https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2018/10/11/four-more-signings-for-cowboys/
  14. https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2019/03/12/nrl-team-list-round-1-v-dragons/
  15. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/111737156/league-player-knocked-out-by-exnrl-hooker-blames-king-hit-on-himself
  16. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-12/rabbits-down-the-cowboys-roosters-win-to-end-magic-round/11103988
  17. https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys/offfield-friendship-is-taking-over-the-cowboys-tryscoring-ranks/news-story/290d3e1a5df45f7a9be0f4d017e5b327
  18. https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/02/15/nines-final-team-list-final-v-dragons/
  19. "Cowboys to farewell five departing players". NQ Cowboys. 3 October 2020.
  20. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/tom-opacic/summary.html
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