news-engine

Cowboys star’s Sydney move reveal in contract saga twist; Souths to keep their man — Whispers Earlier this week, Cowboys star halfback Tom Dearden pledged his long-term allegiance to the club while labelling speculation that he wanted a release as “a whole lot of nonsense”. Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Dearden, who is under contract until the end of 2029, has been the subject of rumours that suggest he’s considering a move to Sydney for personal reasons. “There’s been a fair bit of speculation getting around at the moment and there’s been a lot of suggestions that I’ve wanted to move on or leave the club and I just want to (say) that that’s not the case at all,” Dearden said last week. “I don’t feel like I should have to get up here and explain myself or explain myself against speculation because it’s just been a whole lot of nonsense... I’m committed to the Cowboys until 2029 and I think it’s a bit silly that you have to get up here and speak to a bit of nonsense that’s been going around. But the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Dearden made suggestions to the club about a possible release on more than one occasion. The last time he broached the idea to the club was in March, with his desire to move to Sydney to be with his pregnant partner, who lives in the Harbour City. The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Sydney clubs were told of the Dearden situation and two were interested. Sydney clubs were struggling to find the money given Dearden is on a lucrative deal at the Cowboys and his contract states that he must be paid 11 per cent of the club’s salary cap. It means he could be earning just shy of $1.5 million a season by 2029 if the cap lifts as expected. HUMPHREYS TO STAY PUT It looks like Souths halfback Jamie Humphreys will be staying in Sydney and with the Rabbitohs. The 24-year-old travelled to Perth last month and had a three-year offer on the table as the new franchise was confident they’d get their man. But Humphreys decided against the move west and is now set to sign a contract extension with Souths, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Humphreys joined the Rabbitohs in 2025 but has only played 14 games this season, starting six at halfback before being demoted to the bench and reserves. He might get to add to his games tally now that halfback Ashton Ward is out after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday night’s win over Parramatta.