The likes of Leigh Leopards and Catalans Dragons are still in the transfer market for a halfback ahead of the 2024 Super League season.
Both clubs have quota spots open for the 2024 Super League season. Leigh have two open with one likely to be used by Ben Nakubuwai whose future has not been formally confirmed as of yet. The other is almost certain to be used on a halfback after the loss of Ben Reynolds to his home town club Featherstone Rovers. This is because, the Leopards have missed out on the likely only British option in the shape of Ryan Brierley who signed an extension with Salford Red Devils.
Catalans Dragons meanwhile have signed Theo Fages from the Huddersfield Giants to replace Mitchell Pearce but halfback partner Tyrone May remains unreplaced which has made the availability of Tom Dearden a key factor for both clubs.
He is officially available to Super League clubs due to being out of contract at the end of 2024 which means he can negotiate with the likes of Leigh, Catalans and others.
But his agent Sam Ayoub is set to play the waiting game with Dearden’s future and remain at North Queensland Cowboys for 2024 despite talk of a move away.
“Tom is in a good position whether it be now, in January, or March, April,” Sam Ayoub told the publication.
“I don’t want to heap any pressure on him so I won’t be talking about it publicly. He is on the market but there is no urgency for either he or I or the Cowboys to jump into it. They know my position and we will assess it in due course.”
It is felt that he could earn a big money move for 2025 away from the Cowboys. This comes from Ayoub.
“There are clubs that will be able to afford to pay a lot more for him than the Cowboys,” Ayoub added.
“But are they clubs you want to go to? Are they clubs that he will be happy at? So to say when is he making a decision about his future, my answer is what urgency is there? His value isn’t going to diminish.”
