Tom Dearden

Tom Dearden was born in Toowoomba, and later moved to Mackay where he attended school and played junior rugby league with Brothers Bulldogs Mackay.

Dearden later moved to the Gold Coast where he played for the Currumbin Eagles and attended school at Palm Beach Currumbin. During his time at Palm Beach Currumbin, Dearden was selected in the Queensland Under 16s side alongside fellow Maroons Origin player Xavier Coates.

In 2018, Dearden played in the Mal Meninga Cup competition with Tweed Seagulls who went on to win the Grand Final. Later that Year Dearden was a part of a successful Queensland Under 18s outfit that featured fellow Maroons players Xavier Coates, Tino Fa’asuameaui, David Fifita and Tom Gilbert. Dearden capped off a stellar year leading Palm Beach Currumbin to victory in the ARL School Boy Cup, and winning the Peter Sterling Medal for player of the tournament. The young half was later selected in the Australian Schoolboys side that went on a tour to England.

In 2019, Dearden made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos against South Sydney Rabbitohs and would make a further 21 appearances for the club over the next two seasons before being granted a release to the North Queensland Cowboys. Dearden made his Cowboys debut in Round 14 against Manly, and would become a consistent member of the halves for North Queensland.

“I love the way he plays his football. He’s a true competitor, he’s a tough defender, he organises his area really well and brings out the strengths in people around him"

Billy Slater FOG #142

Dearden hit some fine form in 2022, and as a result was selected in the Queensland Maroons squad for the State of Origin series. Cameron Munster was ruled out of the Game III decider with Covid-19, which saw Dearden rewarded with a State of Origin debut in the halves for the Maroons.

Dearden set up a try for fellow Cowboys team mate Valentine Holmes in the opening half, and went on to play a key role in the Maroons in their 22-12 victory over the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.

The following season the young half continued his form for the Cowboys and was again selected in Queensland Maroons squad as 18th man for Game I of the series.

2024 was the best of his career to date, starring for the Cowboys and earning himself the Queensland Maroons number 6 jersey for the series after Munster succumbed to a groin injury. The Cowboys half went on to have a stellar series in Maroon and claim the Ron McAullife Medal as Queensland's best player of the series. 

Dearden capped off a huge season leading Cowboys to week 2 of the NRL finals and claiming the Five-Eighth role in the NRL team of the year at the Dally M awards, and was also awarded Tackle of the Year award. Dearden also won the Paul Bowman Medal for Cowboys Best player of the Year making him the third youngest winner in the clubs history. Dearden also took home the Players Player and Fan Choice Player of the Year awards on the night. Dearden finished the year off with a call up to the Kangaroos side.