Why Reuben Cotter is confident Tom Dearden will get Origin job done for Queensland Maroons

Reuben Cotter has thrown his full support behind Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden to step up for his state and deliver Queensland its fourth Origin series in five years. Find out why.

Reuben Cotter has thrown his full support behind Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden to step up for his state and deliver Queensland its fourth Origin series in five years.

Dearden is in career-best form despite his struggling club side and has been one of North Queensland’s shining lights through 11 rounds, serving up a number of Origin-worthy plays.

His memorable 95m run-down of Selwyn Cobbo to stop a certain try in round 4 typified the efforts needed to step into the State of Origin arena without being blown off the park.

With Cameron Munster ruled out with a groin injury, Cotter said Dearden would do Queensland proud if called upon.

“I’d love to see him to get a call, he’s just a go-er. He’s been there before too – I think when Munster was sick maybe – he got the late call up and he didn’t look out of place,” Cotter said

Dearden has scored five tries so far this season, including a round 11 double, and he missed his first minutes of 2024 late in the game when he copped his career-first sin bin. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“He’s been playing some good footy; he always competes and he’s always in everything.

“If he’s there, he’ll get the job done.”

Dearden’s deceptive strength and elite fitness are both key elements of the Maroons mould and will allow him to withstand the intensity of Origin and even flourish.

His inspirational moments like powering through three defenders to score a match-defining try against the Rabbitohs will be dearly needed by the Munster-less Maroons.

Dearden has scored five tries so far this season, including a round 11 double, and he missed his first minutes of 2024 late in the game when he copped his career-first sin bin.

Reuben Cotter was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as the Player of the Series in 2023. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Cotter said there were plenty of attributes in the Mackay Brothers junior’s nature that allowed him to step up for the big moments.

“His competitive nature and the way he carries the ball,” Cotter said.

“He’s a great defender too on that (left) edge, he’s just a competitor so he’ll bring that sort of style of footy.”

As for his own chances of a Maroons call-up, Cotter said he was trying not to think about it too much while remaining hopeful.

It would be a shock for Cotter to miss out after winning the 2023 Wally Lewis Medal as the player of the series, leading Queensland to a decisive triumph over NSW.

The Queensland State of Origin squad will be announced after the conclusion of round 12.

Originally published as Why Reuben Cotter is confident Tom Dearden will get Origin job done for Queensland Maroons