North Queensland Cowboys star Tom Dearden and his management have made it known he will remain in Townsville at least until the end of his current contract.
Dearden is locked down until the end of the 2029 season, but constant speculation has bubbled away of an exit from the club to relocate to New South Wales.
Given his partner lives in Sydney, it has created media conjecture about his future in the NRL.
Dearden will remain in North Queensland after his agent told the Sydney Morning Herald he has no plans of leaving the club he's spent the past six seasons with.
“I can't say it strongly enough – Tom Dearden is going nowhere,” his agent Sam Ayoub told the publication.
“He has come out publicly and said as much, and he's telling the truth.
“I find it very disturbing when people are linking him to the South Sydney club. I have not talked to Souths or any club about Tom. He will be playing with the Cowboys.”
The Cowboys and Dearden held a press conference in August to address the media noise surrounding his future, also nipping it in the bud at the time.
Rumours still followed Dearden until now, with Ayoub confirming the good news for Townsville locals.
Despite an injury-disrupted campaign this year, Dearden is one of the best playmakers in the competition and seriously flexed his muscle when he got the call-up as the first-choice QLD Maroons halfback in 2025, taking over from Daly Cherry-Evans in Game's 1 and 2.
Dearden went into the final two matches and impressed heavily, winning the Wally Lewis Medal (series MVP), becoming the 11th Queenslander to take home the accolade.
The Cowboys will experience a light change of guard in 2027, with many names departing the club this year, including long-term players Scott Drinkwater, Sam McIntyre and Murray Taulagi.
The club bowed out of the premiership race at the hands of the Cronulla Sharks in Week 1 after finishing eighth in 2026.
