It's not all that often that Origin quality halves become available on the open market.
We're extremely spoilt this season as both a NSW Origin regular and a Queenslander with an Origin to his name have officially become off contract as of November 1st.
We all know about the multi club chase to secure the services of Jarome Luai, but there's an equally sough after number six available.
That player is of course Cowboys five-eight Tom Dearden.
Although the Cowboys are desperate to retain him, there have been a number of clubs linked to the 22 year-old.
Of course this is all speculation but the five clubs below are the five most likely destinations for Tom Dearden:
I've left the Bulldogs off as they have made it very known that they are chasing Jarome Luai. If Luai were to re-sign with the Panthers, expect the Dogs to be in on Dearden.
3. St George Illawarra Dragons
Incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has made no secret of his need to refresh the Dragons side in a big way.
The Dragons will be linked to every off-contract player in the near future and although the temptation will be there to sign everyone, they need to be smart about it.
A big investment in their long-term future in the halves should be priority number one.
Dearden's name can be locked in for however long the contract would be, and a side can then be built around him.
He can partner Ben Hunt for as long as Hunt's legs will carry him and then can partner either Kyle Flanagan, or whoever is the brightest prospect from there.
Flanagan Jr showed he can play at nine and I doubt he would mind making way, albeit temporarily, if it meant bringing Dearden to the club.
One signing is never going to completely re-shape a club but an Origin level number six coming in is just about as close as you'll ever get.
I know the club is linked with Luai but I'd be in on Dearden. Luai is the bigger star but Dearden looks far more likely to be tempted away from his current club.
Lachlan Ilias and Cody Walker are both off-contract at the end of 2025.
If Souths were to buy Dearden for 2025 onwards, they could punt Ilias if he doesn’t come good this year, and move Walker to half-back for a year.
At the end of the 2024 season, Walker will be pushing 35, so a more likely scenario is that he could be “persuaded” to take medical retirement at the end of this coming season and free up the salary cap space for Deardon.
On a separate club, I would not be surprised to see Melbourne decide that Cam Munster on $1.3M is no longer worth the money and take steps to move him on. It’s hard to see how they do that other than on medical grounds – and he has certainly been playing like he is busted (and what was Bellamy doing to let him go and play for Australia instead of getting fit for the pre-season?)
If they can figure out a way, don’t be surprised to see the Storm showing interest.
If nothing else, the fact that they are looking should give Cam a clue that he needs to put the club before himself.