NRL news: Cowboys drop Dearden bombshell with monster extension

North Queensland has extended the contract of in-demand Maroons playmaker Tom Dearden through the end of the 2029 season.

Tom Dearden said signing a five-year contract extension to stick with the Cowboys through 2029 was the greatest Christmas present he ever received.

Dearden turned his back on significant interest from southern suitors to become the longest tenured Cowboy on North Queensland’s roster, signing a five-year extension one week before Christmas.

The Maroons playmaker, who turns 23 in March, had been named as a key recruitment target for St George Illawarra and speculated to command as much as $1m per season on an open market hungry for halves.

Dearden said he had not met with any rivals in his 49 day free agency, standing by his word that he had only ever wanted to be a Cowboy.

This masthead can confirm Dearden received a significant pay rise on his sub-$550,000 salary from 2023 but has sacrificed even more to continue playing for the club he grew up supporting.

Tom Dearden of the Cowboys. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“It’s probably the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten,” Dearden said.

“It’s great security (signing a long-term extension) but I absolutely love it in North Queensland. I love the club so I’m happy to be a part of it until the end of 2029.

“It’s a long time and there’s going to be a lot of hard work throughout those years and hopefully a lot of highs as well.”

With Jarome Luai expected to sign with Wests Tigers within days and Brisbane set to lock down Ezra Mam, Dearden’s decision has launched a Christmas bombshell at Shane Flanagan’s Dragons.

St George Illawarra’s incoming coach coveted Dearden to complete a Queensland representative halves pairing with Ben Hunt.

Those plans are now in tatters, with the young Maroon revealing he never had any intention of defecting from North Queensland.

Tom Dearden of the Cowboys. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“It didn’t get that far,” Dearden said when quizzed on whether he had toured rival facilities.

“I didn’t really get involved too much in the outside noise involving other clubs as I knew I just wanted to be here at the Cowboys.

“It’s kind of an uncomfortable situation. I knew that I loved the Cowboys and I was always very keen on staying here. It was just about getting my deal done here.”

Dearden’s relief to put pen-to-paper was obvious.

The reserved playmaker has never sought the limelight and insisted on delivering the good news about his extension to coach Todd Payten and Cowboys football chief Micheal Luck personally.

“I was appreciative of it, that he had the character to make the call himself,” Payten said.

“Everyone is really happy. He’s a terrific kid who has worked his backside off since he’s been at the club. He deserves every little bit he’s got and we’re excited that he’s here.

Tom Dearden of the North Queensland Cowboys. Picture: Tim Allsop/Getty Images

“I’m always a little bit hesistant when good players like him are on the market but I believe that this is the best place for him.

“We proved that, he came here down on confidence and through his own work ethic and the environment we created around him we’ve turned him into an Origin player. He’s now a leader at the club and he’s grown into a man.”

The extension locks in three quarters of North Queensland’s spine after fullback Scott Drinkwater (2027) and Reece Robson (2025) signed deals to remain in Townsville in the past 12 months.

“This is a great day for our club, locking in one of the most talented young playmakers in rugby league to remain in a Cowboys jersey until the end of the decade,” Luck said.

“Today’s announcement finalises what we believe is a solid foundation for our club to build around with Tom, Scott Drinkwater and Reece Robson all locked into long-term deals.”

Originally published as NRL news: Cowboys drop Dearden bombshell with monster extension