He may have been hot property on the open market but Tom Dearden will stay at the North Queensland Cowboys after signing a new long-term deal.
Overtures were abound from several clubs but a new five-year extension will see Dearden stick around in Townsville for a long while yet.
The Toowoomba local was a part of the Cowboys Academy program after his move to Mackay before he went on to play first-grade with Brisbane Broncos.
His initial signing came with some trepidation but he has since justified the signing, having what was arguably a career best year in 2023.
Across 58 NRL games for the Cowboys, Dearden has scored 22 tries and assisted 28.
With halves so crucial in rugby league, the Cowboys are pleased to have retained Dearden, an Origin representative and budding half of the future.
“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,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
“We were always confident Tom wanted to remain part of our club because he has thrived in our environment.
“His improvement as a player has been considerable since he first arrived in 2021 and we believe he’s only scratched the surface.”