Mackay boys help seal QLD Origin Series win
The five former Mackay boys who featured in Origin 2022 did the whole region proud. All five played pivotal roles when it mattered most, but who was best? TAKE OUR POLL
Tom Dearden’s memorable Maroons debut capped off a remarkable Origin Series for Mackay.
Five former boys of the Mackay region in Reuben Cotter, Daly Cherry-Evans, Dane Gagai, Kalyn Ponga and Tom Dearden played pivotal roles over the three games.
The win was made all the more special after a Covid outbreak rocked the QLD camp that affected star five-eighth Cameron Munster and winger Murray Taulagi.
Former Mackay Brothers junior and Mackay State High School alumni Dearden was called in to replace Munster and his composure was instrumental in the Maroons reclaim of the Origin Shield.
Speaking with a reporter post match in front of his family, the 21-year-old described the experience as “unreal”.
“I’ve got no words, I can’t believe it, it’s a dream come true,” he said.
“It’s something I never pictured I’d do as a kid and to have my family here and the whole of Queensland supporting you, it’s a dream come true.”
Dearden said he could not hear himself think as he ran onto the field and thanked the coaching staff for the confidence they passed on leading into the game.
“I knew exactly what my job was and what I had to do,” he said.
“It’s the toughest game I’ve ever been a part of and so much happened but I’m just glad that we got it done for Queensland, it means the world.”
His dad Steve was also interviewed and said he was “very proud” of his son.
“We’ve been waiting, but I knew it would happen one day, he’s built for it,” he said.
Cherry-Evans stood up in the absence of Munster, Gagai flew the flag in a defining moment of the game that led to an all-in melee and Kalyn Ponga proved the critics wrong with a best afield performance.
Reuben Cotter was one of the best performers in QLD’s game one win, before missing out on the final two games with injury.
