// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Marly Bitungane a good dancer? Bitungane steps up.
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Emarly Bitungane | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 27 October 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 14 st 11 lb (94 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Loose forward, Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 19 September 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Emarly Bitungane (born 27 October 2002) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the London Broncos in the Betfred Championship
He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background
[edit]Bitungane was born in Tanzania to Burundian parents. In 2007 he moved to Australia, growing up in Woodridge, Queensland.[4][5]
He played his junior rugby league for Logan Brothers and attended Woodridge State High School and St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace.[6]
Playing career
[edit]Early career
[edit]In 2019 and 2020, Bitungane played for the Easts Tigers in the Mal Meninga Cup.[7][8]
In 2021, after playing for the Tigers in the Hastings Deering Colts and spending a year in the Melbourne Storm's junior system, Bitungane signed with the North Queensland Cowboys, joining their Young Guns program.[9][10] In 2022, he played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Colts competition, playing in their Grand Final win over the Redcliffe Dolphins.[11]
In 2023, Bitungane moved up to the Queensland Cup, playing nine games for Townsville. On 24 October 2023, he was upgrade to an NRL development contract with the Cowboys.[12] In 2024, he moved to the Northern Pride, playing 19 games.[13]
2025
[edit]In round 22 of the 2025 NRL season, Bitungane made his NRL debut against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[14]
On 3 September, he was announced as one of seven players departing the North Queensland club at the end of the 2025 season.[15]
On 7 November 2025 it was reported that he had signed for London Broncos in the RFL Championship on a 1-year deal.[16]
On 4 December 2025 it was reported that he had signed for Perth Bears in the NRL for the 2027 season[17]
Club statistics
[edit]| Year | Club | League Competition | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Drop goals | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  North Queensland Cowboys | 2023 NRL season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Played one pre-season game |
| 2023 |  Townsville Blackhawks | 2023 Queensland Cup | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | North Queensland Cowboys Affiliate club |
| 2024 | North Queensland Cowboys | 2024 NRL season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Played one pre-season game |
| 2024 |  Northern Pride | 2024 Queensland Cup | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | North Queensland Cowboys Affiliate club |
| 2025 | North Queensland Cowboys | 2025 NRL season | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Played one pre-season game |
| 2025 | Northern Pride | 2025 Queensland Cup | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | North Queensland Cowboys Affiliate club |
| 2026 |  London Broncos | 2026 RFL Championship | 25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
| Club career total | 71 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 | [18][19] | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ "Cowboys debutant to make history". The Sporting News. 30 July 2025.
- ↑ Rugby League Project
- ↑ "Player Summary: Emarly Bitungane". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers' Club.
- ↑ "Emarly Bitungane's rugby league journey". NRL. 9 February 2025.
- ↑ "Get to know our young players ahead of Sunday's trial". NQ Cowboys. 15 February 2024.
- ↑ "St Joseph's Gregory Terrace prepare for 2020 GPS First XV rugby season". Courier Mail. 3 August 2020.
- ↑ "Round 4 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup teams". QRL. 26 March 2019.
- ↑ "2020 QRL U18 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup Round 1". LeagueUnlimited. 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "Hastings Deering Colts U21 TEAMS - 2021 Round 11". LeagueUnlimited. 6 July 2021.
- ↑ "Marly Bitungane to make NRL debut for North Queensland Cowboys after fleeing Tanzania as a refugee". Courier Mail. 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "Eleven Cowboys contracted players named for U21s Grand Final". NQ Cowboys. 22 September 2022.
- ↑ "Cowboys promote seven from Pathways program to NRL squad for 2024". NQ Cowboys. 24 October 2023.
- ↑ "Five Cowboys named for Pride's Prelim Final". NQ Cowboys. 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Cowboys NRL team list: Round 22 v Sharks". NQ Cowboys. 29 July 2025.
- ↑ "Cowboys to farewell seven departing players". NQ Cowboys. 3 September 2025.
- ↑ Olawumi, Ben (7 November 2025). "London Broncos set to land NRL duo on short-term deals as next steps outlined". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ↑ Callum Walker (4 December 2025). "Perth Bears sign London Broncos duo for 2027". Total RL. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ Rugby League Project
- ↑ "Player Summary: Emarly Bitungane". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers' Club.
External links
[edit]
- 2002 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Tanzanian sportsmen
- Australian people of Burundian descent
- London Broncos players
- North Queensland Cowboys players
- Northern Pride RLFC players
- Rugby league players from Brisbane
- Rugby league props
- Tanzanian emigrants to Australia
- Tanzanian people of Burundian descent
- Townsville Blackhawks players