‘Zero chance’: Dearden slaps down ‘frustrating’ Roosters rumours
Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden has again strongly denied there is any truth to whispers of a move to the Roosters, insisting there is “zero chance” he will land in Bondi as Sam Walker’s replacement.
Dearden was quizzed on talk of a move to the Tricolours when he addressed media in Townsville on Friday, ahead of Australia’s World Cup clash with the Cook Islands at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
Tom Dearden at Kangaroos training on Friday. Getty Images
Rumours of Dearden leaving the Cowboys for the Roosters have swirled for months because his partner, Millie Oliver, lives in Sydney.
The couple have in recent days welcomed their first child into the world, their baby daughter Dolly June.
At the same time, Walker’s relationship with the Roosters has blown up with the club’s billionaire chairman, Nick Politis, sensationally pulling his contract offer for the premiership-winning halfback after being pushed to boiling point by his management.
That Bondi bombshell inevitably kicked the Dearden-to-Roosters whispers into overdrive.
But Dearden, who is contracted to North Queensland until the end of 2029, was unequivocal when prodded about the rumours after Kangaroos training on Friday.
“Well, nothing’s changed to what I’ve said in a few interviews now. I’m not going anywhere. I’m at the Cowboys,” Dearden said.
“I know there’s a fair bit of speculation. It’s a bit of a circus coming up to November 1 for a lot of players.
“But it’s exactly the same thing – I’m not going anywhere, and I’m up here with the Cowboys.”
It’s been speculated since Politis’ shock move that a swap deal could be struck, which would see Dearden go to the Roosters and Walker join the Cowboys.
Walker is contracted to the Tricolours until the end of 2027, but his relationship with the club is so badly fractured that there are major doubts about whether he will see out his deal.
Dearden said there was “zero chance” of him ditching the Cowboys for the Roosters when prodded again later in his press conference.
The 25-year-old also admitted the rumours were weighing on him.
“I think it is a bit frustrating,” he said.
“I think the most frustrating thing is the fans reading it and sort of believing that that’s gonna happen. You always have Cowboys fans questioning whether I’m gonna go or asking that question.
Roosters halfback Sam Walker. Getty Images
“But I’ve been in front of the cameras a few times and assured that I’m not going anywhere. I’m committed to the Cowboys and I love playing up here and none of that’s ever changed.”
Dearden will line up at halfback in Saturday night’s World Cup game against the Cook Islands, having beaten Walker to the prized Kangaroos No.7 jumper.
He will form part of an ominous attacking combination that includes Cameron Munster at five-eighth and Reece Walsh at fullback.
“I think we just complement each other,” Dearden said of his partnership with Munster.
“Munster’s a great player, and I think part of playing alongside ‘Munny’, and Walshy as well at the back, is just giving them their opportunities. They always take the game on and they’re so creative.
“I’ve just always enjoyed playing with ‘Munny’. He’s a larrikin, everyone loves him off the field, and you respect what he does on the field so much.”
