Marly Bitungane

Last updated

Marly Bitungane
Personal information
Full nameEmarly Bitungane
Born (2002-10-27) 27 October 2002 (age 23)
Height5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)
Weight14 st 5 lb (91 kg)
Playing information
Position Prop
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2025 North Qld Cowboys 20000
2026– London Broncos 00000
Total20000
Source: [2]
As of 21 November 2025

Emarly Bitungane (born 27 October 2002) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the London Broncos in the Betfred Championship

Contents

He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Bitungane was born in Tanzania to Burundian parents. In 2007 he moved to Australia, growing up in Woodridge, Queensland. [3] [4]

He played his junior rugby league for Logan Brothers and attended Woodridge State High School and St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. [5]

Playing career

Early career

In 2019 and 2020, Bitungane played for the Easts Tigers in the Mal Meninga Cup. [6] [7]

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. [8] [9] In 2022, he played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Colts competition, playing in their Grand Final win over the Redcliffe Dolphins. [10]

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. [11] In 2024, he moved to the Northern Pride, playing 19 games. [12]

2025

In round 22 of the 2025 NRL season, Bitungane made his NRL debut against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. [13]

On 3 September, he was announced as one of seven players departing the North Queensland club at the end of the 2025 season. [14]

On 7 November 2025 it was reported that he had signed for London Broncos in the RFL Championship on a 1-year deal. [15]

References

  1. "Cowboys debutant to make history". The Sporting News. 30 July 2025.
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. "Emarly Bitungane's rugby league journey". NRL. 9 February 2025.
  4. "Get to know our young players ahead of Sunday's trial". NQ Cowboys. 15 February 2024.
  5. "St Joseph's Gregory Terrace prepare for 2020 GPS First XV rugby season". Courier Mail. 3 August 2020.
  6. "Round 4 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup teams". QRL. 26 March 2019.
  7. "2020 QRL U18 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup Round 1". LeagueUnlimited. 15 March 2020.
  8. "Hastings Deering Colts U21 TEAMS - 2021 Round 11". LeagueUnlimited. 6 July 2021.
  9. "Marly Bitungane to make NRL debut for North Queensland Cowboys after fleeing Tanzania as a refugee". Courier Mail. 3 August 2025.
  10. "Eleven Cowboys contracted players named for U21s Grand Final". NQ Cowboys. 22 September 2022.
  11. "Cowboys promote seven from Pathways program to NRL squad for 2024". NQ Cowboys. 24 October 2023.
  12. "Five Cowboys named for Pride's Prelim Final". NQ Cowboys. 13 September 2024.
  13. "Cowboys NRL team list: Round 22 v Sharks". NQ Cowboys. 29 July 2025.
  14. "Cowboys to farewell seven departing players". NQ Cowboys. 3 September 2025.
  15. Ben Olawumi (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.