The North Queensland Cowboys have been dealt a brutal double injury blow, with co‑captain Tom Dearden and hooker Soni Luke both sidelined following Friday night’s clash with Parramatta.
Scans have confirmed Dearden suffered a serious ankle injury in the second half of the Eels match as a result of a controversial tackle that left the star half clearly hampered as he tried to play on. He’ll undergo surgery this week and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, ruling him out of a crucial stretch for both the Cowboys and the Queensland Maroons.
Coach Todd Payten praised Dearden’s toughness but admitted it was obvious the co‑captain was struggling, saying the playmaker tried to push through before the severity became clear. Payten said the team “let him down” in the dying stages of the match.
The injury comes at a difficult time for the Cowboys, who will now need to reshuffle their spine as they push through the middle of the season.
Meanwhile, scans have also confirmed Soni Luke will spend around a month on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in the same game. The hooker has been a key part of the rotation since joining the club and his absence adds further pressure to the Cowboys.
