Tom Dearden lasted just one match after returning from a long injury layoff before being ruled out again with a serious tear in his other leg. The North Queensland Cowboys confirmed their star halfback suffered a high-grade peroneal muscle avulsion tear during the Round 20 loss to the Dolphins. With the Cowboys sitting eighth and entering a crucial stretch of their NRL season, the timing could hardly be worse.
Why This Is Trending
Dearden’s injury has drawn attention because it came immediately after his return from a syndesmosis problem that had kept him out since Round 10 and forced him to miss the entire 2026 State of Origin series.
North Queensland announced on Friday that scans showed a high-grade peroneal muscle avulsion tear in the opposite leg to his previous syndesmosis injury. The Cowboys said he will attempt rehabilitation with the aim of returning late in the season, but they have not set a specific return date.
Coach Todd Payten offered a more immediate estimate, telling media in Townsville that Dearden had been ruled out for the next three weeks. That leaves uncertainty over whether the halfback can return during a period in which every result carries added weight for a side positioned eighth on the ladder.
What Happened
Dearden returned against the Dolphins in Round 20 after a lengthy rehabilitation. According to Payten, he suffered the new injury just after halftime but still managed to finish the match.
Tommy Dearden has been ruled out for the next three weeks.
Payten said Dearden had torn a muscle in his shin on his previously uninjured leg, describing his ability to finish the game as another example of his toughness.
The setback followed a difficult rehabilitation from his earlier syndesmosis injury. Zero Tackle reported that his recovery had also been slowed by a diagnosed ankle fracture after the initial scans confirmed the syndesmosis problem.
What We Know So Far
The Cowboys have confirmed the new injury is on the opposite leg from Dearden’s previous problem. Sporting News AU reported that club medical staff will pursue rehabilitation rather than setting an immediate fixed comeback date.
- Syndesmosis injury
- An injury involving structures around the ankle that had kept Dearden sidelined since Round 10.
- Peroneal muscle avulsion tear
- The new injury diagnosed in Dearden’s lower leg. The Cowboys described it as high-grade.
NRL Physio, quoted by Zero Tackle, described the affected muscle as important for ankle stability during changes of direction and said recovery from a significant injury of this type can take several weeks even in a best-case scenario.
North Queensland now faces another reshuffle. Jaxon Purdue is expected to move back into the halves alongside Jake Clifford, while Zac Laybutt is set to return to the centres.
The Cowboys host Brisbane in Round 21 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:35pm AEST on Saturday. Dearden will miss the Queensland Derby against his former club.
Why It Matters
The injury directly affects North Queensland’s finals push. The Cowboys were eighth when the setback was confirmed, and their position in a congested section of the ladder means losing their primary halfback could influence several close matches.
Dearden’s earlier absence produced uneven results. Zero Tackle reported that North Queensland initially won two matches without him, then lost three straight before recording victories over Penrith and Manly. That sequence shows the side can win without its star playmaker, but consistency becomes harder to maintain when combinations in key positions keep changing.
For Australian rugby league followers, the injury also represents another frustrating interruption to a season in which Dearden had already missed the State of Origin series. His return was expected to strengthen the Cowboys for the closing rounds; instead, the club must again adjust its spine and attacking structure.
What Happens Next
Dearden will begin rehabilitation while the Cowboys monitor how quickly the injured muscle responds. The club’s official position is that there is no specific return date, although the stated aim is a comeback late in the season.
North Queensland’s immediate task is the home match against Brisbane, followed by a run that Zero Tackle lists as the Roosters at home, then the Titans and Eels away, before later home matches against the Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders around a bye.
Those fixtures give the Cowboys opportunities to stay in the finals race, but Dearden’s availability could become one of the defining factors in how their season finishes.
FAQ
What injury does Tom Dearden have?
The Cowboys confirmed Dearden suffered a high-grade peroneal muscle avulsion tear in the opposite leg to his previous syndesmosis injury.
How long will Tom Dearden be out?
Todd Payten said Dearden had been ruled out for the next three weeks, while the club said there is no specific return timeframe and he will attempt to return late in the season.
When did Tom Dearden get injured again?
He suffered the new leg injury during his Round 20 return match against the Dolphins, with Payten saying it happened just after halftime.
Will Tom Dearden play against the Broncos?
No. He has been ruled out of the Round 21 Queensland Derby against Brisbane at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Who will replace Tom Dearden in the Cowboys halves?
Jaxon Purdue is expected to move into the halves alongside Jake Clifford, with Zac Laybutt returning to the centres.