Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden proves his competitive edge in Castle Hill challenge
He is the playmaker who raised plenty of questions after his arrival at the Cowboys, but one thing that can’t be questioned is his tenacity. FIND OUT WHO LED THE SIDE UP CASTLE HILL
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DETERMINED halfback Tom Dearden has turned heads in Cowboys pre-season training leading the squad up the dreaded Castle Hill road run.
North Queensland coach Todd Payten welcomed back his senior playing group with the gruelling test of fitness early on Friday morning.
But it was the young gun, who has been the club’s best in the opening weeks of pre-season, that took the challenge head on finishing at the front of the pack.
Marquee recruit Chad Townsend proved his own impressive level of fitness by finishing narrowly behind his prospective halves partner.
“Tommy has been excellent through the last couple of weeks so it wasn’t a surprise to see him up front,” Cowboys head of football Micheal Luck said.
“He is naturally fit and he has put on a bit of size in the off-season. He came back a good seven or eight kilos heavier, but he has carried the weight well. He is tough and he is a competitor.
“His efforts are always great, as they were at the back end of last year in a side that wasn’t going great. One thing you can never fault about Tommy is his efforts.”
Luck said he was impressed with how every player tackled the tough assignment which he believed was a stirring metaphor for the climb the Cowboys need to make off the bottom end of the premiership ladder.
“Whilst it is great to see those guys putting in hard work, running quick up the hill doesn’t make you a superstar on the field,” he said.
“It is symbolic of the journey we have to go on as a club. We are starting from not where we want to be, getting to the top is a hard, long and arduous journey. You have to be tough, durable and resilient to get there. The guys that are that way inclined were up the front leading the way.
“I think as a coaching staff we were really happy with everyone’s effort. Our guys don’t road run much or do much up the hill, it was one out of the box to start the pre-season.”
Dearden, who arrived at the Cowboys midway through last season after being released by the Broncos, is in a three-way battle to fill out the two starting halves roles with Townsend and Scott Drinkwater.
‘Business as usual’: Cowboys fend off vaccination concerns
THE Cowboys have fended off player vaccination concerns ahead of their full squad returning to the training paddock this week.
While the clubs younger brigade have already sweated it out in the Townsville heat over the past fortnight, their experienced group including premiership winners Jake Granville and Kyle Feldt as well as star recruit Chad Townsend don’t officially return to training until Friday.
Cowboys skipper Jason Taumalolo will also be part of that returning group despite recent reports suggesting the Tongan international is yet to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.
Reports emerged last week that the Cowboys highest paid player was among a select group of players yet to receive their first dose.
It is understood the Cowboys have a strong vaccination rate in the club with only three of their top-30 squad not ‘double vaccinated’. It is not known who the other two players are.
Cowboys’ head of football Micheal Luck refused to discuss individual player’s personal medical details but remained confident in the club’s vaccination record.
“We are comfortable with our level of compliance at the moment with the way the rules are currently from both an NRL and a state government perspective,” Luck said.
“There are no restrictions around what our guys can do in terms of preparation for season 2022.
“As of Friday we will have everyone back at training and the vast majority are fully vaccinated and there are a few who are awaiting their second vaccination. As far as training goes it will be business as usual.”
The Cowboys will have until the start of next season to ensure their entire squad has had both doses, or the club risks players sitting out their season opener against the Bulldogs in Townsville due to state government mandates.
From next month only double vaccinated people will be able to enter Queensland stadiums.
The Cowboys high performance facility, the Hutchinson Builders Centre, is a private venue so the restrictions will not affect their pre-season training sessions.
Any player who has not received their second vaccination must abide by several NRL imposed restrictions which includes temperature tests on arrival to the facility, weekly Covid-19 tests, eating in separate areas of the facility and getting changed in separate locker rooms.
Any player who has not been double vaccinated must also live under the ‘bubble’ restrictions which were in place last season which includes leaving home for essential purposes only.
“The entire squad is aware of the protocols which have been put in place,” Luck said.
Originally published as Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden proves his competitive edge in Castle Hill challenge
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