- Revelation has been made on a recent podcast
Former Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has disclosed exactly how a rumour linking North Queensland Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden to a Sydney NRL club first surfaced.
Dearden has been with the Townsville-based North Queensland Cowboys since 2021, after making the move from the Brisbane Broncos.
But after recently coupling up with Millie Oliver, who is based in Sydney, rumours began to circulate about a potential move south of the border to be closer to her.
The claim’s validity has been questioned since surfacing on Triple M last month, and it has now been revealed who first began sharing it.
Papenhuyzen explained the claim was made public by one of Dearden’s friends as a complete joke.
This came after the 2020 premiership winner revealed that a recent rumour about him joining the Parramatta Eels had been started by his own sibling.
Tom Dearden (pictured with new girlfriend Millie Ollver) has been rumoured to be heading down to Sydney
The North Queensland Cowbiys star (pictured) is one of his side’s most senior players
Dearden (pictured with Cameron Munster) played a starring role in Queensland regaining the Origin shield in 2025
‘My f****g brother was going around telling everyone I was going to Parramatta,’ he said on the 167 podcast he hosts with Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.
After questioning the pair on how the rumours relating to Dearden gained traction, Papenhuyzen revealed how they first came about.
‘Yeah, so that was his (Dearden’s) good mate who called up and leaked it — not true at all — he was just like, ‘f*** it…’,’ he said.
The news comes as Dearden remains contracted to North Queensland for the foreseeable future.
He is set to play a major role in guiding the Cowboys back to the finals and will again be among the favourites to represent the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin series.
Earlier this week, eligibility rules for the 46-year concept were altered.
Players such as Cronulla Sharks forward Addin Fonua-Blake and Gold Coast Titans utility AJ Brimson are now eligible to represent their states.
The Cowboys face the Newcastle Knights in the opening game of the NRL season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
