'I'm super proud': Tom Dearden's mum, Johnathan Thurston in awe of 'just a kid from Mackay'

Sitting on one wing of Queensland's XXXX Gold-splattered change rooms after the Maroons' series-clinching win on Wednesday night, Tom Dearden's mum tried to fathom her boy's remarkable rise.

On one hand, Andrea Dearden was able to grasp with ease the incredible journey of "Tommy" — so talented, passionate and committed he'd been since taking up rugby league with Brothers Bulldogs Mackay as a young tacker.

On the other hand, reflecting on his 24 years of life and soaking up those euphoric moments in the sheds felt almost like a dream.

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"It's so surreal," said Andrea, wearing a maroon sweater and holding a can of Queensland's finest.

Growing up watching Johnathan Thurston steer the Maroons to State of Origin series wins in the state's iconic No.7 jersey, Dearden aspired to do the same.

And in 80 minutes of scintillating football on Wednesday night, in NSW territory no less, he guided Queensland to an Origin series victory with the No.7 on his back for the first time.

"Tommy growing up, that was his dream, and we just watched it unfold tonight, and Queensland were amazing and he was amazing. He had a great game," Andrea said.

He was awarded man of the match, and had The King loop the Wally Lewis Medal around his neck as the player deemed man of the series.

Billy Slater played him off the bench in game one, giving him a 27-minute spurt at hooker in the second half at Suncorp Stadium.

Then came that selection decision before game two, as Slater racked his brain ahead of the must-win trip to Perth. The coach's decision to axe Queensland's captain and champion halfback was met with stinging criticism from both sides of the border, but in filling Daly Cherry-Evans' boots, Dearden was superb.

The young halfback reached another level in Sydney, scoring two tries, including the one that sealed the result, laying 27 tackles, including a heroic try-saver on Brian To'o, and generally proving a major thorn in the Blues' side both in defence and attack.

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"Ever since he was a little fella he's just loved the game of rugby league, he's always been a little competitor, and he's always been talented and a good leader," Andrea said.

"We're probably not surprised that this is where it's at, [although] it may have happened sooner than what we thought.

"He's got that dedication, he works hard, he's humble.

"It was his time, and we didn't think he would let anyone down."

Thurston was only a couple of paces away as Andrea chatted all things "Tommy" with Wide World of Sports.

"He's a kid that just wants to learn, wants to take in information and is really starting to understand his game," said Thurston, one of Slater's assistant coaches.

"He's starting to have that belief in himself that he can run a team. His connection with Harry [Grant] and 'Mun' [Cameron Munster] — they have allowed him to grow into that position and really demand the respect of his teammates and get them around the paddock, and when 'Mun' needs the ball, he gets the ball.

"I just think he is really starting to grow into a great No.7."

In club land, Grant admires the Cowboys general from afar. In Origin camp and inside the cauldron, the Storm hooker admires him as a teammate.

"I love playing alongside him," Grant said.

"I think everyone would say individually he'd be up there with one of your favourite teammates, [given] the way he carries himself around the group, but also the way he performs week in, week out, [and he does that] in club land and the Origin arena. He brings so much to the group.

"He's just a kid from Mackay that's living out his dream, and he brings that into work every day."

Born in Toowoomba, Dearden and his family moved to Mackay when he was five years old.

He played with Brothers Bulldogs Mackay — the club that produced Cherry-Evans, Brett Dallas and Shannon Hegarty — until he and his family moved to the Gold Coast when he was 16.

There, he played for the Currumbin Eagles — the club that produced Jahrome Hughes, Xavier Coates and Kevin Proctor — and his school, Palm Beach Currumbin, where Ben Ikin, Darius Boyd and Cody Walker were educated.

Dearden quickly found himself in the Broncos' academy, and began his NRL career at the powerhouse Brisbane club.

But in 2021, then-Broncos coach Kevin Walters axed him in favour of Brodie Croft, and the former Australian Schoolboys playmaker was soon given permission mid-contract to find another club.

Come June of 2021, he'd moved back to Far North Queensland to join the Cowboys, the club he barracked for as a kid.

It was a series of events that left many respected observers scratching their heads at the time. Four years on, in the aftermath of Dearden's Origin heroics, the Broncos have XXXX Gold-soaked egg on their face.

Listening to Dearden talk through the mindset he had after being handed Queensland's No.7 jersey ahead of the do-or-die Origin II, the rising star's champion qualities shine through.

"I was excited for the opportunity and there were nerves [knowing] that it was now my opportunity and I had to make sure I made the most of it," Dearden explained.

"It certainly wasn't daunting or anything like that; it was all good nerves and good excitement.

"I looked at who I was playing alongside, and you've got Harry Grant and Cameron Munster, and it was KP [Kalyn Ponga] in game two and then Hamiso [Tabuai-Fidow in game three], and I looked at playing alongside those blokes in the spine and it just makes you super confident in getting your job done."

Collectively, Allan Langer, Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cherry-Evans made the Queensland No.7 jumper a treasure of Australian sport.

The honour isn't lost on the new No.7.

"I certainly don't take that lightly, looking at the players that have worn this jersey in the past. I know any time you get to don the same number as them you don't want to let them down, and that's always in the back of my mind," Dearden said.

"I'm super proud," his mum smiled. "It's lovely."