Tom Dearden (Co-Captain)

A proud Mackay product, Dearden appeared in 22 NRL games over the course of three seasons for the Brisbane Broncos.

Dearden was a member of the Cowboys’ Mackay Academy as a teenager and starred for the Cutters’ under 16s side in 2016 before relocating to the Gold Coast to attend Palm Beach Currumbin the following year.

In 2018, Dearden was an integral member of Palm Beach’s ARL Schoolboy Cup winning side and received the Peter Sterling Medal for Player of the Tournament. He was also selected in the Australian Schoolboys side to tour England at the end of the season.

A mid-season recruit in 2021, Dearden endeared himself to Cowboys fans through his tenacious style of play. In 12 games with the Cowboys, Dearden crossed for six tries, including four in his final six appearances.

The Mackay product has emerged as one of the NRL’s top young playmakers in his time at the Cowboys.

Dearden made his Maroons debut in the 2022 Origin decider, guiding Queensland to a 10-point victory at Suncorp Stadium, before picking up the Players’ Player and Cowboys Way Award at the club’s end of season awards night.

Dearden is contracted until the end of the 2029 season.