'It's Tom's time': Dearden impresses as new Maroons No.7

One of Queensland’s greatest halfbacks Johnathan Thurston has shared his pride in seeing Tom Dearden step into the role and to help guide the Maroons to an essential victory in Perth.

Called up to replace former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans at halfback in a bold selection move by Billy Slater, the tenacious Cowboy proved he had what it takes in one of the most pressurised roles in Australian sport.

“I'm very proud,” Thurston told NRL.com. “I thought he was really good, really good … defensively he was really strong, his kicking game was good and he got the boys around the park really well.

“I thought he was outstanding - and he needed to be - and I think he'll take a lot of confidence out of the first half because he combined really well with Munny [Cameron Munster] and KP [Kalyn Ponga], so I'm very proud of him.”

For Dearden, who was playing his fifth Origin, the experience of wearing the No.7 jersey for Queensland for the first time was special.

“Oh, it was awesome, it's a special feeling,” Dearden said.

“I always look at the players that wore the jersey before like Daly Cherry Evans, JT, Alfie Langer, Cooper Cronk and I think that's what that's what makes it so special.

“There's a lot of rich history playing for Queensland and it makes you proud to wear the jersey.”

For Slater, while it was a tough call to make on Cherry-Evans, it was one that ultimately paid off, with Dearden heavily involved in Queensland racing to a 26-6 half-time lead.

“You won't get a negative word out of me for Daly Cherry-Evans, he's a wonderful player and has been a wonderful player for a long period of time,” Slater prefaced before speaking about Dearden.

“[But] it's Tom's time now and he didn't surprise any of us I don't think, in what he put out there tonight.

“I'm really proud of him and that's the first time he's worn the No.7 jersey for Queensland; I imagine it wouldn't be the last.”

Thurston, a Maroons assistant coach, also works with Dearden on a regular basis with North Queensland Cowboys and said he was someone who was always working on his game and could be counted on for effort plays.

“He's constantly asking for feedback, he's constantly working on his game as an individual, he's very clear in his mind of what needs to be done, but he's also can play off the cuff, which is what the game is these days,” Thurston said.

“He was outstanding and he should be very proud.

“It's a credit to him and I feel very grateful that I get to work with, not only him, but these boys because they're great young men and they're great Queenslanders.”

With the series now heading to a decider in Sydney, Dearden, who called the shots alongside new captain Cameron Munster in the halves for the first time, knew Queensland had to do plenty of improving to snare the series.

“We had to work really hard and got ahead in that first half and then the second half, the momentum completely changed, and I think it's just really proud that we could hang in there and fight for each other defending those last sort of few minutes of the game,” Dearden said.

“I think a few errors and penalties … when you give teams field position, especially a team with the quality of players that the Blues have, they really punish you for it and make you pay.

“I think that is probably what we'll look at, just a few of those errors and putting ourselves under pressure and at this level, the other team takes advantage of it.

“We go back to club footy now and play there and then hopefully it all works out that we're back in for Game Three and then it all gets down to business.

“You always want to be involved in a decider, it's a big game and it's everything on the line."