Before he had the chance to take the NRL stage, Tom Dearden was shackled by expectations that he’d become the next great Brisbane halfback.
For a period, that pressure proved insurmountable, as the Broncos descended into their darkest days.
But three years after his Red Hill departure, Dearden is a State of Origin star, North Queensland Cowboys co-captain and – when he lines up against Tonga on Friday night – a Kangaroos debutant.
Tom Dearden at Kangaroos training ahead of the Pacific Championships.Credit: NRL Photos
To say Cowboys head of football Micheal Luck was proud of his five-eighth’s evolution, having fought “tremendous expectation”, would be an understatement.
“Tommy Dearden is one of the most consistent players in the competition. It’s very rare you see a game from him where you go ‘Tommy wasn’t on tonight’,” Luck said.
“He prepares himself like no other player I’ve come across in a long time, and you know he’s going to be ready to play every week.”
Cowboys head of football Micheal Luck
Dearden’s selection, after claiming the Dally M five-eighth of the year gong, has coincided with a transformation of the Kangaroos after last year’s 30-0 capitulation to New Zealand in the Pacific Championships final.
It marks a dream resurgence for a young man who once felt so maligned.
Schoolboy moments pave the path
The fruits of Dearden were on show before he hit the big time. But there were early concerns he may concede to the burdens he shouldered.
As an 18-year-old Bronco, hopes that he would spearhead a return to premiership contention were left in tatters during the ill-fated wooden spoon season of 2020.
Dearden bore the brunt of criticism during his 22-game tenure, and was left questioning his place among the game’s upper echelon.
But according to his high school coach, Aaron Zimmerle, he was never going to stay down for long.
Just like fellow Palm Beach Currumbin alumni Jahrome Hughes and Jamal Fogarty before him, all he needed was time.
“Tommy was always destined for greatness. He just suffered a little at the Broncos from being thrust into the key role as an NRL half while still only a teenager,” Zimmerle said.
“Our most successful graduates will tell you, being able to complete an apprenticeship has been the making of their careers.
“I think he taught me more than I taught him.”
Zimmerle remembers coaching Dearden, Toby Sexton and Xavier Willison when Palm Beach Currumbin won the national schoolboys’ championship in 2018 – defeating Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Taylan May in the final.
“He said, ‘Zimmo, when I get my defence on, I know I am going to play well’,” he said.
“I hope Tom’s time at PBC taught him to believe in his own game, and when things are not going well, to go back to the fundamentals and focus on your strengths.”
A teenage Tom Dearden pictured during the Emerging Queensland Maroons squad camp in 2018.Credit: NRL Photos
Defying overwhelming pressure
Dearden admits there were times when he was second-guessing himself.
While he conquered those issues, University of Queensland sport psychology expert Dr Vanessa Wergin said many promising young athletes endured different fates.
The post-doctoral researcher has studied the English Premier League extensively, coming to understand the multitude of voices that young players hear from outside the team once losing streaks occur.
“The perception is, if you make that much money, you better perform,” Wergin said.
“There are so many administrative people and representatives in a club, and the whole club is barely about the sport and individuals any more – it’s business.”
Wergin said the rate of athletes withdrawing from their sport increases the younger they are when they hone in on one code, with media scrutiny playing a role.
She pleaded with organisations to cast aside the excitement of bringing an enticing prospect into the fold, and instead keep them removed from the spotlight.
“The most pressure in sport comes from audiences, especially during the past 10 to 20 years,” she said.
“Sport is such a crazy system. We should all relax a bit and give that player a chance to find their feet in the team first.”
As the Broncos backed up their last-place finish by winning just three of their opening 13 games in 2021, Dearden – the man once heralded as the next Allan Langer – lined up for the Cowboys in round 14.
From that point, North Queensland struggled, slumping from seventh to 15th. But after winning just one more game, the 23-year-old was reborn – ultimately benefiting from less attention.
Now, Dearden will set out to make the Kangaroos’ No.6 jersey his own.
And his Cowboys teammate and Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo hinted there would be few ways to contain him.
“You can always try and out-compete him, but that’s never the case with Tommy,” Taumalolo said.
“Whether he’s defending or attacking, he’s doing everything with 110 per cent, and I expect nothing less on Friday night. For us to contain him … hopefully he drops a few balls.”
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