Tom Dearden’s Injury and the Impact on State of Origin
Tom Dearden is set to be out of action for at least six weeks after sustaining a serious ankle injury during a crucial match. The injury, which has been identified as a syndesmosis injury (high ankle sprain), will require surgery and could keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks. This means that Dearden might miss the entire State of Origin series if his recovery takes longer than expected.
The incident occurred in the 12th minute of the Eels’ 33-30 victory over the Cowboys when Dearden was tackled from behind by Josh Addo-Carr and Joash Papalii. Initially, the Queensland halfback tried to continue playing through the pain, but he eventually had to leave the field, visibly struggling with his ankle. After the game, Dearden was seen with ice on his ankle, looking very despondent.
State of Origin Game 1 is only two weeks away, and Game 2 is scheduled for five weeks later. With Dearden’s injury, it’s now uncertain whether he will be able to participate in the series at all.
Potential Replacement Players
With Dearden out of the picture, several players are now being considered for the Queensland team. Daly Cherry-Evans, Sam Walker, and Tanah Boyd are among those who could step into the halfback position. Notably, Cherry-Evans was previously dropped as halfback and captain after Game 1 last year.
Josh Addo-Carr Escapes Suspension
Despite the severity of the tackle that caused Dearden’s injury, Josh Addo-Carr has escaped any charges from the match review committee. This means he is free to potentially return to the NSW Origin fold. Addo-Carr has worked his way into contention for the wing position in recent weeks, and Blues coach Laurie Daley is still unsure of who will be selected for the role.
Addo-Carr wasn’t put on report or sin-binned during the match, but his tackle had a distinct hip-drop feel to it. He grabbed Dearden’s upper body and then lost his balance, causing his weight to come down directly onto Dearden’s ankle. This type of tackle has led to multi-week suspensions for other players this year, including Ryan Couchman and Kodi Nikorima.
Queensland coach Billy Slater addressed the situation on Channel 9, stating that he didn’t think there was anything illegal about the incident. “I don’t think there was anything illegal in the incident,” Slater said. “It was just one of those things where he came down a bit awkwardly. Hopefully Tom Dearden is fine.”
Other Incidents and Penalties
In addition to Dearden’s injury, there have been other notable incidents in the rugby league world. Roosters forward Victor Radley has received a one-game ban for a high tackle in their win over the Titans. Meanwhile, Gold Coast prop Mo Fotuaika escaped with a $3000 fine for a hip-drop tackle.
Both Radley and Fotuaika are eligible to play in the Origin opener if they are selected for their respective teams. Additionally, Scott Drinkwater was fined $1000 for making contact with Mitch Moses’ legs on Parramatta’s field-goal in golden-point extra time.
