Dearden learns from Cherry-Evans to make No.7 his own

Scott Bailey and Justin Chadwick | June 19, 2025

Tom Dearden has vowed to make good on Billy Slater’s declaration it is his time to own the Queensland No.7 jersey, while taking lessons from predecessor Daly Cherry-Evans.

Dearden proved a steady hand for the Maroons in his first game as a starting halfback, just a week after Queensland’s bold call to drop Cherry-Evans.

The North Queensland halfback played crucial roles in three of the Maroons’ four first-half tries, before they held on as their 26-6 lead shrunk into a 26-24 victory.

Dearden’s performance prompted Slater to declare in the post-match press conference “it is Tom’s time” predicting he will play many more games for the Maroons.

Told of Slater’s comments, Dearden said it was now up to him to make sure he owns the jersey and does it justice.

“It makes me feel that I have to make the most of it,” Dearden told AAP. 

“If I look at my game, I thought I probably missed my game in the second half. It’s just about getting better and trying to own my role in that No.7 jersey.

“The most important thing was just trying to play my own game and not trying to be anyone else. That’s how I tried to attack it tonight. 

“There is a lot of improvement in my own game, especially in the second half when we were behind the eight-ball a bit. 

“I will look at this game and how we can get better for game three.”

Dearden said he had also tried to take on lessons from Cherry-Evans in the role, admitting part of him was disappointed about the captain’s mid-series axing.

Slater’s gamble to drop Cherry-Evans after the 18-6 series-opening loss in Brisbane was historic, with the No.7 the first first-choice Maroons halfback dropped for a live rubber in 24 years.

But Dearden said there were still parts of Cherry-Evans’ game he took into the match, having partnered him in the halves before and spent weeks upon weeks with him in camp.

“Being involved in camps and seeing the way Chez operates in the game and his preparation, that’s helped me so much,” Dearden said. 

“It’s a big learning playing alongside him and being around him in camp.

“Mostly just around how professional he is. He is very clear about how he wants to play. 

“That is something I am learning, you find your own game and your own strengths and be very clear in making sure you go out and you make sure you get them on.”

Dearden dug into the line for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s first try, before he kicked across field for the winger’s second moments later.

But the new No.7’s best play came later in the first half when he went to the left, created numbers and gave Kurt Mann the chance to offload for a Kurt Capewell try.

There were issues in defence down his right edge in the second half as NSW fought back, but he was never bullied by the Blues and neither did they run over the top of him.