Latest news with #Dearden
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Dazzling Dearden helps ease pressure on Cowboy coach
The blowtorch on under-pressure North Queensland coach Todd Payten has eased ever so slightly after the Cowboys overcame a spirited second-half comeback from the Dragons to claim a 38-32 home win. North Queensland looked like they might squander a 16-point halftime lead when the Dragons scored three unanswered tries midway through the second half at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday night. However, Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden proved the difference. Dearden scored twice, including the match sealer, set up another and proved typically defiant in defence. The victory keeps the Cowboys' slim NRL finals hopes alive, leapfrogging the Dragons into 11th place, five points outside the top eight with five matches to play. The Cowboys have the bye in the final round. A slashing 25-metre angled run by Zac Laybutt saw the Cowboys open the scoring in the fifth minute, and they had a second five minutes later when Reece Robson darted out of dummy half 45m out to send Dearden over untouched. The Dragons bounced back midway through the half through winger Tyrell Sloan. He was followed up by Mat Feagai, who pounced on a deft Lyhkan King-Togia grubber. But the end of the half belonged to the Cowboys, with Coen Hess, Scott Drinkwater and Jeremiah Nanai all scoring inside the last seven minutes, the home side heading into the break up 28-12. The Dragons mounted their comeback midway through the second period, Corey Allan, Sloan and Jacob Liddle all touching down in a nine-minute period to take advantage of a glut of possession. It was Sloan's sixth try in his past four games. Dearden then intervened, scoring a brilliant individual running try with nine minutes to go to seal the win, before Jaxon Purdue and then Liddle both crossed late. It wasn't pretty for the Cowboys, but it was a welcome relief for Payten's men, just their second win in their past eight starts. Meanwhile, the Dragons have now won just one of their past seven and sit in 12th place, six points outside the top eight. With six games to go, five of which are against teams currently in the top eight, they may well see 2025 as a season of "what if'', having suffered seven defeats by six points or less, and staring down the barrel of no finals for a seventh consecutive year. The blowtorch on under-pressure North Queensland coach Todd Payten has eased ever so slightly after the Cowboys overcame a spirited second-half comeback from the Dragons to claim a 38-32 home win. North Queensland looked like they might squander a 16-point halftime lead when the Dragons scored three unanswered tries midway through the second half at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday night. However, Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden proved the difference. Dearden scored twice, including the match sealer, set up another and proved typically defiant in defence. The victory keeps the Cowboys' slim NRL finals hopes alive, leapfrogging the Dragons into 11th place, five points outside the top eight with five matches to play. The Cowboys have the bye in the final round. A slashing 25-metre angled run by Zac Laybutt saw the Cowboys open the scoring in the fifth minute, and they had a second five minutes later when Reece Robson darted out of dummy half 45m out to send Dearden over untouched. The Dragons bounced back midway through the half through winger Tyrell Sloan. He was followed up by Mat Feagai, who pounced on a deft Lyhkan King-Togia grubber. But the end of the half belonged to the Cowboys, with Coen Hess, Scott Drinkwater and Jeremiah Nanai all scoring inside the last seven minutes, the home side heading into the break up 28-12. The Dragons mounted their comeback midway through the second period, Corey Allan, Sloan and Jacob Liddle all touching down in a nine-minute period to take advantage of a glut of possession. It was Sloan's sixth try in his past four games. Dearden then intervened, scoring a brilliant individual running try with nine minutes to go to seal the win, before Jaxon Purdue and then Liddle both crossed late. It wasn't pretty for the Cowboys, but it was a welcome relief for Payten's men, just their second win in their past eight starts. Meanwhile, the Dragons have now won just one of their past seven and sit in 12th place, six points outside the top eight. With six games to go, five of which are against teams currently in the top eight, they may well see 2025 as a season of "what if'', having suffered seven defeats by six points or less, and staring down the barrel of no finals for a seventh consecutive year. The blowtorch on under-pressure North Queensland coach Todd Payten has eased ever so slightly after the Cowboys overcame a spirited second-half comeback from the Dragons to claim a 38-32 home win. North Queensland looked like they might squander a 16-point halftime lead when the Dragons scored three unanswered tries midway through the second half at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday night. However, Cowboys skipper Tom Dearden proved the difference. Dearden scored twice, including the match sealer, set up another and proved typically defiant in defence. The victory keeps the Cowboys' slim NRL finals hopes alive, leapfrogging the Dragons into 11th place, five points outside the top eight with five matches to play. The Cowboys have the bye in the final round. A slashing 25-metre angled run by Zac Laybutt saw the Cowboys open the scoring in the fifth minute, and they had a second five minutes later when Reece Robson darted out of dummy half 45m out to send Dearden over untouched. The Dragons bounced back midway through the half through winger Tyrell Sloan. He was followed up by Mat Feagai, who pounced on a deft Lyhkan King-Togia grubber. But the end of the half belonged to the Cowboys, with Coen Hess, Scott Drinkwater and Jeremiah Nanai all scoring inside the last seven minutes, the home side heading into the break up 28-12. The Dragons mounted their comeback midway through the second period, Corey Allan, Sloan and Jacob Liddle all touching down in a nine-minute period to take advantage of a glut of possession. It was Sloan's sixth try in his past four games. Dearden then intervened, scoring a brilliant individual running try with nine minutes to go to seal the win, before Jaxon Purdue and then Liddle both crossed late. It wasn't pretty for the Cowboys, but it was a welcome relief for Payten's men, just their second win in their past eight starts. Meanwhile, the Dragons have now won just one of their past seven and sit in 12th place, six points outside the top eight. With six games to go, five of which are against teams currently in the top eight, they may well see 2025 as a season of "what if'', having suffered seven defeats by six points or less, and staring down the barrel of no finals for a seventh consecutive year.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Tom Dearden shares 'inspirational' text by Daly Cherry-Evans before State of Origin decider
Tom Dearden revealed that after being named as former Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans ' replacement ahead of Game 3, he received an 'inspirational' text from his predecessor encouraging him to thrive in the 2025 State of Origin decider. Dearden proceeded to deliver a stunning performance - scoring two crucial tries and earning Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series - helping Queensland clinch a 24–12 victory New South Wales in the deciding Game 3 in front of 80,256 fans at Accor Stadium in Sydney. New South Wales opened the 2025 State of Origin series with an 18-6 win in Brisbane on May 28, but Queensland hit back with a thrilling 26-24 victory in Perth on June 18 to level the series. — NRL (@NRL) Wally Lewis Medal winner Tom Dearden has paid tribute to the man he replaced, former Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans, after delivering a career-best performance to help seal the 2025 State of Origin series for the Maroons. Apart for scoring two tries, Dearden also produced a crucial try-saving tackle on Blues winger Brian To'o . Live Events — NRL (@NRL) Although Dearden's rise effectively marked the end of Cherry-Evans' Origin career by taking over the No.7 jersey mid-series, he revealed after the match that the veteran halfback played a key role in his growth. He shared that Cherry-Evans had even sent him a supportive message before the decider, highlighting his class and ongoing influence despite stepping aside. "He sent me a message which said, 'good luck, congratulations and all that stuff'," Dearden said. "He's a proud Queenslander too, and he would have wanted the best for us. I wasn't surprised at all though because I know Daly Cherry-Evans and that's the type of person he is. "I've been very lucky to be involved with camps with Daly and to see the way he leads this team around and the way he prepares for an Origin game. Watching that, it helped me a lot. He's been instrumental in my development just being involved in camp with him," Dearden added. — NRL (@NRL) Dearden began the series coming off the bench in Game 1, which saw New South Wales secure a win in Brisbane. But for Games 2 and 3, coach Billy Slater made a bold call-replacing veteran Cherry-Evans with Dearden in the starting halves. The move proved decisive, shifting the momentum of the series. Getty Images Cameron Munster and Tom Dearden (right) of the Queensland Maroons celebrate with the State of Origin Shield after winning game three of the State Of Origin series against New South Wales Blues at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by) While much of the spotlight ahead of the decider was on Cameron Munster , who bravely took the field just days after his father's passing, it was Dearden who stole the show. He outperformed Blues playmaker Nathan Cleary and firmly established himself as Queensland's leading creative force. "It's a special feeling," Dearden said of his Wally Lewis Medal honour. "I'm just proud. I really enjoy playing footy and I just love competing. When you get to play in these teams, you have so many great players around you and I think that brings out the best in myself." — NRL (@NRL) Coach Slater had high praise for his young No.7, calling Dearden 'one of the best competitors' he's ever come across. "I don't think anyone is surprised how Tom Dearden has played in the No.7 jersey," Slater said. Last year, it was the Blues who came out on top, clinching the series with a 14-4 win in the decider at Brisbane. Since its inception in 1982, the State of Origin has seen Queensland dominate with 25 series wins - highlighted by an unprecedented eight-year streak from 2006 to 2013. New South Wales has claimed 17 series victories, with two ending in draws.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The seven deadly sins that cost NSW series they never should have lost
'We sort of knew that they were going to,' Yeo noted. Not least because whenever the Maroons have scuppered NSW – suffocating and frustrating the Blues into error – it has been with the exact same blueprint. Christian Welch made an Origin career out of hassling Cleary. Dane Gagai built his own 'Origin Gagai' alter-ego by consistently rushing in whenever a Penrith-style sweeping shift was plotted by the Blues. You wouldn't know it, but the above clip is from 2022, not 2025. With three shifts inside the first 15 minutes, the Blues attacked flat and fast to left-edge strike weapons Angus Crichton and Latrell Mitchell, only for Rob Toia, Val Holmes and Tom Dearden to get the jump and douse their efforts. Andrew Johns was left lamenting 'no Plan B' in response from the Blues. After an early Liam Martin break down the opposite edge, Stephen Crichton didn't see any attacking ball aside from tough carries out of trouble. No play summed up just how clunky the Blues attack was than the follow-up to their best defensive set of the game – when Queensland were pinned down in their own 20-metres while trailing 14-0. The Blues finally came right with their good field position, but it was from a flat-footed run by Spencer Leniu a moment earlier, Nathan Cleary directing him back inside as easy pickings for the Maroons markers. The sweep play that followed finished with Dylan Edwards' pass missing the mark and a turnover, but like so much of the NSW attack, it never looked like troubling Queensland either. 'Out-muscled, out-worked, out-Origin'd' No single player summed up the difference in 'Origin mindset' than Dearden, and the two highlight-reel plays he starred in. The Queensland No.7's first try could so easily have been the turning point for NSW as they bundled Toia toward the tryline, only for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to be perfectly placed - just in case - for a desperate pass in-field. Angus Crichton and Reece Robson were only half a step off the pace, but half a step is all the advantage the Hammer has ever needed. Dearden's try-saving shot on Brian To'o meanwhile, was the kind of effort that will live long in Queensland folklore. When was the last time To'o - a small tank with arms and legs - was stopped with the tryline in sight? Out kicked and chased, too As for the NSW kicking game, it was off all night. Jarome Luai inexplicably started with a dinked chip that sailed too long for Valentine Holmes to easily field it and claim a seven-tackle set. His and Cleary's kicks repeatedly sailed a metre or two long for Xavier Coates to handle on his ears, with Queensland teammates expertly escorting the Blues' kick-chasers out of contention. As NSW's first-half fatigue mounted, it was a Coates return – when he sprinted past a lagging chase – that led to Dearden's try a few tackles later. Queensland, meanwhile, presented Dylan Edwards with one big imposing Maroon wall all night. Ill-discipline opens the door No blaming Ash Klein for this one. If anything, the 50-50 calls in the decider went the Blues' way. In a first half that finished with Queensland leading 20-0, NSW had the better of a 3-2 penalty count. Hooker Reece Robson tackled anything that moved – to the tune of two costly penalties leading to Maroons tries. Along with 29 first-half tackles, Robson twice dragged down Queensland support players late in the tackle count as the Blues scrambled. His holding back of Tom Dearden bled into the Maroons' first try to Coates, before the real killer leading into half-time. NSW didn't touch the ball again after the previously mentioned right-side play breakdown between Edwards and Lomax. It took a captain's challenge to set the record straight, but Robson was pinged for dragging Tabuai-Fidow out of play in support through the middle in the 35th minute. A 14-point deficit was stretched further soon enough. The bench and middle rotations With Queensland playing outright perfect Origin football and not making a mistake until the 69th minute, NSW ended up tackling for an extra 10 sets in the first half. By the final few minutes, it well and truly showed. Yet Daley only went to his bench twice – replacing the ineffectual Max King with Stefano Utoikamanu after 23 minutes, and then giving Payne Haas a deserved breather after 30 minutes. Hudson Young was the Blues' best forward during their second-half comeback in Perth but wasn't called upon until the second half, while Connor Watson too sat idle as tackle counts for Robson, Yeo and Haas all mounted. So when Robson held Tabuai-Fidow back, Munster forced a repeat set with a pinpoint kick and Grant had real momentum to run with, it was at a defensive line on its last legs. The glaring defensive lapses For the most part, NSW scrambled well enough to keep themselves in it despite momentum mounting against them. Before the lactic acid built, though, Zac Lomax was all at sea for Queensland's first try. Cooper Cronk didn't miss his off-kilter rush in-field on Gehamat Shibasaki, either, in commentary on Fox Sports. 'That's a poor miss at this level,' Cronk said. 'Zac Lomax knew that play, he saw it coming and he had a left-shoulder tackle. He could've absolutely wiped out Shibasaki but missed the tackle. He pushed through and Xavier Coates scores the first try.' By the 38th minute, Grant was burrowing hard and low at the Blues line following three quick play-the-balls. Edwards, Yeo and Crichton couldn't get a handle on the game's best dummy-half as he twisted and turned, while Utoikamanu simply didn't put himself in a position to either. Just as his marker defence was found wanting by the Queensland hooker when he set up Munster's try in Perth, Utoikamanu didn't push up on the inside when Grant began wrestling his way to the tryline on Wednesday night. The seventh sin: All of the above And that, as Gould, Johns, Cronk, Yeo, Cleary and anyone else who had eyes on Origin could tell you, was how it went.
The Age
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The seven deadly sins that cost NSW series they never should have lost
'We sort of knew that they were going to,' Yeo noted. Not least because whenever the Maroons have scuppered NSW – suffocating and frustrating the Blues into error – it has been with the exact same blueprint. Christian Welch made an Origin career out of hassling Cleary. Dane Gagai built his own 'Origin Gagai' alter-ego by consistently rushing in whenever a Penrith-style sweeping shift was plotted by the Blues. You wouldn't know it, but the above clip is from 2022, not 2025. With three shifts inside the first 15 minutes, the Blues attacked flat and fast to left-edge strike weapons Angus Crichton and Latrell Mitchell, only for Rob Toia, Val Holmes and Tom Dearden to get the jump and douse their efforts. Andrew Johns was left lamenting 'no Plan B' in response from the Blues. After an early Liam Martin break down the opposite edge, Stephen Crichton didn't see any attacking ball aside from tough carries out of trouble. No play summed up just how clunky the Blues attack was than the follow-up to their best defensive set of the game – when Queensland were pinned down in their own 20-metres while trailing 14-0. The Blues finally came right with their good field position, but it was from a flat-footed run by Spencer Leniu a moment earlier, Nathan Cleary directing him back inside as easy pickings for the Maroons markers. The sweep play that followed finished with Dylan Edwards' pass missing the mark and a turnover, but like so much of the NSW attack, it never looked like troubling Queensland either. 'Out-muscled, out-worked, out-Origin'd' No single player summed up the difference in 'Origin mindset' than Dearden, and the two highlight-reel plays he starred in. The Queensland No.7's first try could so easily have been the turning point for NSW as they bundled Toia toward the tryline, only for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to be perfectly placed - just in case - for a desperate pass in-field. Angus Crichton and Reece Robson were only half a step off the pace, but half a step is all the advantage the Hammer has ever needed. Dearden's try-saving shot on Brian To'o meanwhile, was the kind of effort that will live long in Queensland folklore. When was the last time To'o - a small tank with arms and legs - was stopped with the tryline in sight? Out kicked and chased, too As for the NSW kicking game, it was off all night. Jarome Luai inexplicably started with a dinked chip that sailed too long for Valentine Holmes to easily field it and claim a seven-tackle set. His and Cleary's kicks repeatedly sailed a metre or two long for Xavier Coates to handle on his ears, with Queensland teammates expertly escorting the Blues' kick-chasers out of contention. As NSW's first-half fatigue mounted, it was a Coates return – when he sprinted past a lagging chase – that led to Dearden's try a few tackles later. Queensland, meanwhile, presented Dylan Edwards with one big imposing Maroon wall all night. Ill-discipline opens the door No blaming Ash Klein for this one. If anything, the 50-50 calls in the decider went the Blues' way. In a first half that finished with Queensland leading 20-0, NSW had the better of a 3-2 penalty count. Hooker Reece Robson tackled anything that moved – to the tune of two costly penalties leading to Maroons tries. Along with 29 first-half tackles, Robson twice dragged down Queensland support players late in the tackle count as the Blues scrambled. His holding back of Tom Dearden bled into the Maroons' first try to Coates, before the real killer leading into half-time. NSW didn't touch the ball again after the previously mentioned right-side play breakdown between Edwards and Lomax. It took a captain's challenge to set the record straight, but Robson was pinged for dragging Tabuai-Fidow out of play in support through the middle in the 35th minute. A 14-point deficit was stretched further soon enough. The bench and middle rotations With Queensland playing outright perfect Origin football and not making a mistake until the 69th minute, NSW ended up tackling for an extra 10 sets in the first half. By the final few minutes, it well and truly showed. Yet Daley only went to his bench twice – replacing the ineffectual Max King with Stefano Utoikamanu after 23 minutes, and then giving Payne Haas a deserved breather after 30 minutes. Hudson Young was the Blues' best forward during their second-half comeback in Perth but wasn't called upon until the second half, while Connor Watson too sat idle as tackle counts for Robson, Yeo and Haas all mounted. So when Robson held Tabuai-Fidow back, Munster forced a repeat set with a pinpoint kick and Grant had real momentum to run with, it was at a defensive line on its last legs. The glaring defensive lapses For the most part, NSW scrambled well enough to keep themselves in it despite momentum mounting against them. Before the lactic acid built, though, Zac Lomax was all at sea for Queensland's first try. Cooper Cronk didn't miss his off-kilter rush in-field on Gehamat Shibasaki, either, in commentary on Fox Sports. 'That's a poor miss at this level,' Cronk said. 'Zac Lomax knew that play, he saw it coming and he had a left-shoulder tackle. He could've absolutely wiped out Shibasaki but missed the tackle. He pushed through and Xavier Coates scores the first try.' By the 38th minute, Grant was burrowing hard and low at the Blues line following three quick play-the-balls. Edwards, Yeo and Crichton couldn't get a handle on the game's best dummy-half as he twisted and turned, while Utoikamanu simply didn't put himself in a position to either. Just as his marker defence was found wanting by the Queensland hooker when he set up Munster's try in Perth, Utoikamanu didn't push up on the inside when Grant began wrestling his way to the tryline on Wednesday night. The seventh sin: All of the above And that, as Gould, Johns, Cronk, Yeo, Cleary and anyone else who had eyes on Origin could tell you, was how it went.
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Queensland stun NSW in State of Origin decider
Queensland have added another chapter to the Maroons' State of Origin folklore, shocking NSW with a 24-12 victory in the game-three decider at Accor Stadium to win back the shield. In a state of chaos a month ago after losing game one, the Maroons were dominant at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night after also stunning NSW in Perth last month. Halfback Tom Dearden was player of the match, brilliant in both attack and defence in the biggest game of his life, scoring twice and having a hand in another. Rookie centre Robert Toia was also among a cast of stars for the Maroons, led by inspirational captain Cameron Munster four days after his father's death. So disciplined were Queensland, the Maroons completed their first 30 sets and took a 20-0 halftime lead against a disappointing Blues. "When we talk about getting our game on, it's pretty similar to what that first half looked like," Queensland coach Billy Slater said. "The effort, the togetherness, that's where it all starts and the points come … it was an inspiring performance and I'm so proud of this group." Queensland's 1995 series whitewash with Paul Vautin's neville nobodies rightly holds top spot in famous backs-to-the-wall spirited Maroons effort. The 2020 victory with the so-called "worst Queensland team in history" is a close second. But the 2025 effort will also now rank alongside those. Slater's men looked shot after dropping the series opener, resulting in captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans being axed mid-series. But in the weeks since they have become the first Maroons side to win back-to-back on the road after going 1-0 down at home. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui was dominant up front early, while his veteran front-row partner Josh Papalii also held his own after being called out of Origin retirement. Queensland's most unlikely bolter Gehamat Shibasaki laid on the Maroons' first try, after he brushed through a Zac Lomax tackle to put Xavier Coates over. Then it was Toia's turn to have an impact, splitting the Blues defence in two when he flung an offload out the back as he was being pushed into touch. That allowed Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to burst into a gaping hole and put Dearden across in support play. Dearden was again influential in the Maroons' next, poking his nose through before Harry Grant spun through four defenders out of dummy-half on the next play. Toia and Dearden then produced the two biggest defensive moments of the second half, with try-savers on Angus Crichton and Brian To'o shortly after the break. NSW eventually got on the board in the 54th minute through Stephen Crichton and Dearden and To'o traded tries late, but NSW attack was otherwise off as poor last-tackle options killed the hosts. Nowhere was that more obvious than when Jarome Luai gave away a 20m tap with a kick that floated into the in-goal early, after a Blues attacking raid. Queensland went down field, got a penalty and kicked 2-0 ahead on the next set as they began their run towards a famous victory. "I'm disappointed, we got off to a bad start again and in Origin if you give away those type of starts, it's always hard to come back from," Blues coach Laurie Daley said. "We played some good footy but they just won some moments … you just can't cop those points."
