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Sport Nation
The Live Sport Bible is here!Cowboys float return date for injured Origin star
Jasper Bruce, AAP •  June 5th, 2026 3:31 pm
Tom Dearden is on track to return from injury earlier than the Cowboys expected | Photo: AAP
Reigning Wally Lewis medallist Tom Dearden is tracking to be available for the third State of Origin match as North Queensland eye his return after their round-15 bye.
Saturday's clash with the Dolphins is set to be the last Cowboys game Queensland star Dearden misses following last month's ankle surgery.
Dearden had initially expected to spend up to eight weeks on the sidelines, which would have meant not playing again before teams were picked for Origin III.
Tom Dearden will be hoping he can get back on the park and help Queensland retain the Origin shield | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
But the 25-year-old has resumed running and is expected to be back after six weeks out, meaning he'll have two club games to reaffirm his credentials for a Maroons call-up.
Cowboys teammate and 11-time Maroons second-rower Jeremiah Nanai is also set to return from a shoulder issue in round 16 to push his own case.
"Everything's headed towards the Warriors (game), the game after the bye," North Queensland coach Todd Payten said of Dearden's return date.
"We should be getting Jeremiah Nanai back that game, Braidon Burns in that game. Johnny Bateman should have a game under his belt in Q Cup."
The Cowboys will be keen to bounce back from a 26-12 road-loss against the Raiders | Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Co-captain Reuben Cotter was the Cowboys' only Origin representative in the series opener, but Payten was hopeful a win over the Dolphins could enhance other players' cases.
Outside backs Murray Taulagi and Jaxon Purdue are options to replace injured Gehamat Shibasaki in the squad, while Pat Carrigan's ankle issue has opened up a spot in the forward rotation.
"I look at Murray Taulagi, he should be thinking ahead and a good performance there, they've had some injuries with Gehamat Shibasaki, so Jaxon Purdue should be in the mix there," Payten said.
"Heilum (Luki) has been strong for us all year. I'd like him to think that he's close. I know he's close. A good performance is going to help everyone in that regard. It's a big game for us."
Reuben Cotter has Murray Taulagi's back at clubland and possibly in Origin II | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
The Cowboys are eager to celebrate Coen Hess' 200th NRL game by bouncing back from last week's humbling defeat to hot-and-cold Canberra.
Payten's side have lost their last three clashes against the Dolphins but the coach labelled the sides' recent history as "irrelevant".
"Every year and every game has got a different context," he said.
"We haven't had a good record against Brisbane either, we beat them. We haven't had a good record against the Sharks, we beat them."
