NRL 2023: Tom Dearden has revenge, and the Maroons, on his mind
Tom Dearden is keen to add another heaping of revenge upon the Broncos on Friday night, a game in which the potent playmaker will continue his push to replace a Queensland great.
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Tom Dearden is primed to challenge Cameron Munster for a Queensland Origin jumper as the Cowboys pivot prepares to torment Brisbane again at the scene of his arrival as an NRL playmaking force.
Broncos reject Dearden is back at Suncorp Stadium for Friday night’s XXXX derby, the very venue where he ripped Brisbane’s defence apart last year in a 38-12 rout that represented the finest game of his embryonic NRL career.
It was the game that proved Dearden belonged in the big league – and within months, he found himself back at Suncorp celebrating a dream Origin debut as Queensland stunned NSW to clinch the shield in an epic decider.
Now Dearden returns to what has seemingly become his field of dreams, determined to keep his foot on the throat of a Broncos club that didn’t want him, driven to book his place at Camp Maroon this season.
While Munster is Queensland’s No. 1 pivot, Dearden is the perfect understudy and the Cowboys ace, who turns 22 this Monday, would relish another stint in the mighty Maroons jumper.
“I do set myself goals and the big one this season is wanting to be part of the Queensland squad again,” said Dearden, who made his Origin debut in Game Three after Munster was ruled out with Covid.
“I want to be a part of those Queensland camps, because I think it’s a really great experience and a great opportunity as well.
“I can’t believe I played Origin last season. I’m still kicking myself about it, it was an absolutely great experience to be involved in the camps and the opportunity to play in Game Three was one of the best moments of my life and something I won’t forget.
“Origin is similar in ways to the NRL but the intensity is another level.
“The time of the game flew by, before I knew it there was only 10 minutes to go, so it was a special moment.
“But I can only get there if I keep bettering myself as a player and I’m working on the little things in my game this season.”
Dearden’s transformation over the past 18 months has been dramatic.
He left Brisbane midway through 2021 with his self-belief in tatters, admitting he began to question if he was truly up to the NRL as Broncos coach Kevin Walters questioned whether the former Australian Schoolboy was ready for week-to-week combat.
But his performances for the Cowboys last season, headlined by his sublime display in last year’s derby demolition at Suncorp, was emphatic evidence Dearden is the real deal.
Critically, he now believes it himself.
“My confidence has come on a lot,” he said.
“I have to thank Todd (Payten, Cowboys coach) and my teammates for that. I really feel content here. When you love what you do and where you are, it gives you a lot of confidence.
“I definitely did question if I could make it in the NRL at the Broncos.
“I questioned my ability.
“But the thing that stuck with me was that I love playing rugby league and as much as it was tough times, I was still living my dream and turning up and training and playing for a living.
“I kept reminding myself not to lose hope.
“I knew if I could stick with it, things would turn around and that’s what happened last year.”
Dearden is officially the Cowboys’ fittest player, smashing the club’s 1.2km time-trial record in pre-season, and believes North Queensland have the playmaking spine to win this year’s title.
A scrumbase showdown with boom Broncos pivot Ezra Mam on Friday night has him primed for the derby.
“I just love winning,” he said.
“I like to compete in everything and it sets me up for a good game when I know I’m in the contest and competing hard. I feel like I can put in a good performance.
“’JT’ (Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston) was one of the best competitors, I grew up watching him and I admired that and wanted to take that from him.
“We have the spine (with Chad Townsend, Reece Robson and Scott Drinkwater) to win the comp. We are good mates and really connected.
“That’s important to make sure we are on the same page and combining well … we’re ready for the challenges ahead.”
TAUMALOLO OPENS UP ON QUEENSLAND ORIGIN DREAM
Jason Taumalolo has revealed his interest in playing State of Origin as the ARL Commission ramps-up a review of eligibility rules that could clear the Cowboys wrecking ball to play for Queensland.
As he prepares for Friday night’s blockbuster against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Taumalolo told News Corp he would relish the prospect of featuring in another derby – taking on the Blues in the famous Maroon jumper.
Taumalolo, one of the most explosive forwards in the league, also opened up about the Cowboys’ premiership ambitions, why he can get better this season and his interest in an amateur boxing career.
“Our premiership window is wide open right now,” Taumalolo said ahead of the XXXX derby.
MIGHTY MAROON
Queensland have twice attempted to poach Taumalolo. The first attempt was in 2012, when then Maroons coach Mal Meninga flew to Townsville to meet with a young Taumalolo, who ultimately chose his country of birth, New Zealand.
Two years ago, former Queensland coach Paul Green made subtle inquiries about Taumalolo, his ex-Cowboys player, representing the Maroons.
At the time, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo closed the door on Taumalolo, but a possible change to Origin’s eligibility rules could clear the path for the Cowboys co-captain to play for Queensland, if not this season, then for 2024 and beyond.
Taumalolo, who renounced his Kiwi ties to play for Tier-Two nation Tonga in 2017, says he would play for Billy Slater’s Maroons if ruled eligible.
“It’s always been a question that has popped up,” he said of his Origin eligibility.
“I will wait until the rules are decided and we’ll go from there, but it would be awesome to play for Tonga and Queensland.
“Origin is the best arena with the best names.
“It (representing the Maroons) is something that has definitely crossed my mind, but I guess we’ll see if the rules change and whether they let me play.”
ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce is currently investigating whether players from Tier One nations New Zealand and England, who have lived in NSW or Queensland from the age of 13, should be cleared for State of Origin.
Taumalolo is presently ineligible because he played 10 Tests for New Zealand before switching to Tonga. But he has lived in Queensland since the age of 13, which satisfies Origin rules if the ARL Commissions softens its stance on Tier One nations.
“We’re currently looking into it,” ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys told News Corp on Wednesday.
“As we speak, Wayne Pearce is consulting and getting some views from key stakeholders on whether we change the State of Origin eligibility.
“We might change it, we might not, Wayne is the right man to do the job and he is doing it at the moment.”
Should the rules be changed, England Test star and Roosters hitman Victor Radley could take on Taumalolo in the NSW Origin jumper.
TITLE DREAM
Taumalolo was rated the best rugby league forward on the planet when he helped spearhead the Cowboys to their maiden premiership in 2015.
The Tongan torpedo charged for 4007 metres in a blockbusting season. Eight years on, Taumalolo turns 30 in May and is desperate to win another premiership ring before he draws the curtain on his decorated career.
The Cowboys fell one game short of the grand final last year and in the likes of Jeremiah Nanai, Griffin Neame, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden and Coen Hess, Taumalolo believes North Queensland have the tools for another title.
“We have the roster to win it this year,” he said.
“With the squad we have, the window for a premiership is wide open right now and for the next few years to come.
“We have signed kids like Jeremiah Nanai for the next three or four years long term and that sets up the club for the opportunity to win a premiership in the next few years definitely.
“I’ve won one but I’m not satisfied with that.
“I want a premiership with this new squad of guys.”
BETTER NEVER STOPS
Many pundits raised eyebrows when Taumalolo signed the longest contract in NRL history in 2017. The 10-year, $10 million deal was unprecedented in rugby league, fuelling a sentiment Taumalolo could become complacent and stale in the tropics.
But midway through his decade-long contract, the 237-game champion dismissed concerns about his hunger. Instead, he has weaponised himself, adding more elements to his repertoire. No longer just a midfield wrecking ball, he can also operate as a link man, passing before the line to ignite the Cowboys backline.
“I’m a more complete player now,” he says.
“The game has changed and as a middle forward you need to be able to pass before the line and create opportunities for other players.
“I know I can draw more defenders playing that way; when I use a pass it does create space and opportunities for other guys to get in a one-on-one opportunity to score tries.
“I don’t ever get complacent. I just love what I do.
“First and foremost I turn up every day and there are days when training might be tough as I get older, but I enjoy coming in and setting standards for the younger guys.
“The guys I put on the jersey with … I don’t like letting them down and my long term goal is always to win a premiership.”
THE COACH
Cowboys coach Todd Payten and Taumalolo got off to a rocky start in 2021 when the rookie mentor criticised his star forward at his maiden post-match NRL conference after being flogged by Penrith.
There were suggestions Taumalolo was off Payten and wanted out of the club. But the 29-year-old says Payten has developed into one of the most influential people in his career.
“There’s no issue at all with Toddy, I can’t speak highly enough of him,” Taumalolo said.
“He is always willing to help and he always wants the best for the players. Most importantly he actually cares.
“Sometimes you get coaches who are really good coaches but they don’t care for players, or just expect players to turn up and play, but Toddy is the opposite.
“He really invests in the players and their wellbeing and if that’s in order, that will give the boys an opportunity to train and better yet perform.
“Toddy has been great, so has Dean Young and Steve Georgallis (assistant coaches).
“All three coaches have been amazing over the last 12 to 18 months and you can see it in our results.”
JT THE BOXER
Two weeks ago, the Cowboys gave Taumalolo formal permission to enter the boxing ring. The 115kg powerhouse is slated to take part in an NRL All Stars exhibition fight night after this year’s grand final and Taumalolo is keen to test himself in the ring.
Fight promoters have installed Taumalolo as the main event on the card. One proposed opponent is Roosters villain Matt Lodge. It would be a heavyweight blockbuster.
“I haven’t thought about it too much but the Cowboys are OK for me to do it,” he said.
“I haven’t boxed for a while but if I get an opportunity, I will definitely put my hand up to do it.
“I need to give myself some time to get prepared because I don’t want to myself look stupid in the ring.
“As a kid, I grew up doing a bit of boxing. I trained here with a few boys at a boxing gym in Townsville on my days off training.
“I’m not sure if I will do it after football. In retirement, I’m not sure if my body could keep up with boxing after football, but boxing is not something that is new to me.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Tom Dearden has revenge, and the Maroons, on his mind
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