‘Driven’ Dearden key to Cowboys’ NRL premiership push

Tom Dearden was always destined to be a top-shelf NRL player.

An outstanding junior who represented Queensland U-18s, he was burdened with expectations before he was ready.

When his time arrived, the once mighty Brisbane Broncos had unfortunately hit rock bottom.

Timing is everything in sport and unfortunately for young Dearden, his was bad.

Branded by many as Brisbane’s next Allan Langer, the 18-year-old’s eagerly awaited NRL debut season proved a disaster as the club finished up with the wooden spoon in 2020 under new coach Anthony Seibold.

Incoming coach Kevin Walters only played Dearden five times during 2021 before Brisbane surprisingly released him to the Cowboys.

After being groomed and touted as the player to lead the Broncos back from the NRL basement, the club in its wisdom failed to offer Dearden a new contract and he departed Red Hill in April 2021.

But those who knew the fair-haired kid from Mackay knew he was special.

They saw qualities in him that convinced them young Tommy would make it all the way to the top.

“Kids rock up at your local community footy club and you welcomed all of them, but you don’t get many of his quality,” said his Currumbin Eagles under-16s coach and former Melbourne Storm premiership winner, Matt Geyer.

The Eagles went through the 2017 season undefeated with Dearden the standout player before he was chosen to represent Queensland.

“He had this incredible competitive nature that stood him apart, he never wanted training to end,” said Geyer.

“He loved competing, he hated it when training finished.

“He was driven back then. He knew where he wanted to be and he worked towards it every minute of the day.

“He was brought up the right way by his parents and he was always a humble, hard-working kid.”

Dearden’s bedroom in his Mackay home resembled a rugby league shrine when he was growing up, with pictures and trophies and footballs.

“I can imagine when he was growing up he would have been a real ‘pain the backside’ kid whose parents had to keep calling him from kicking the footy around to come in for dinner, with the footy sitting on the table while he ate,” laughed Geyer.

Geyer said Dearden always loved the physical side of the game.

“He just kept ticking the boxes,” said Geyer.

“We knew he was competitive, that he was a good talker, he was skilful, he could kick and pass, he was mature and he was humble.”

Dearden relished defending in the front line despite his lack of size.

“He wasn’t as big or as strong as some other kids but he loved the big players running at him,” Geyer said.

“That’s why he’s got to where is today.”

Dearden has made the most of a fresh start with a new club under new coach Todd Payten.

He is now just two wins away from winning a grand final.

It would cap a remarkable 12 months for the 21-year-old who only a few months ago made his debut for Queensland as part of the Maroons side that regained the State of Origin title.

He will no doubt be a major player in Friday night’s epic clash against Parramatta with the winner advancing to Sunday week’s 2022 NRL Grand Final against either Penrith or South Sydney.

Quite remarkable when you consider where his career was just 16 months ago.

Dearden and the Cowboys will have the backing of a massive crowd packed into the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville doing everything in their power to make life uncomfortable for Parramatta.

The Cowboys have lost only one of their nine games at their new Townsville stadium, while the Eels head north having lost seven of their previous eight trips to north Queensland.

The Cowboys have also won all seven finals games played in Townsville and earlier this year they beat the Eels 35-4 in Townsville.

Online bookmakers have North Queensland pegged as a $1.70 favourite, with Parramatta paying around $2.15 for the win.

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