QLD legend piles more pressure on Nathan Cleary with massive call about Tom Dearden

Yahoo

16-07-2025

Queensland's greatest halfback Allan Langer admits Kangaroos selectors have 'a tough job' in deciding whether to pick Nathan Cleary or Tom Dearden as Australia's halfback for this year's Ashes series. Cleary is widely regarded as the best No.7 in the game but he was comprehensively outplayed by Dearden in the Origin series, with the Maroons' halfback inspiring his side to a come-from-behind series win after replacing Daly Cherry-Evans at No.7 for Queensland.
Cleary has won four-straight premierships with Penrith, as well as a World Cup with Australia but is yet to dominate an Origin series and now has an 8-9 winning record with NSW that includes three losses in deciders. And it's led to suggestions that Dearden is in line to replace Cleary as Australia's No.7 for the end-of-season Test series against England.
Some have compared Dearden to Maroons great Langer and the Queensland legend admitted that "he's heading in the right direction." Langer was thoroughly impressed by Dearden's displays for the Maroons that earned him the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series and believes he's a genuine chance to replace Cleary as Kangaroos halfback.
"I'm sure we're going to see a lot more of Tommy Dearden and a lot more games for Queensland as well," Langer told ABC radio. "And he's going to put a lot of pressure on Nathan Cleary for that halfback spot for Australia. He's a great kid and certainly got a lot of footy left in front of him."
Langer admits it will be a difficult decision for the next Kangaroos coach to choose between Dearden and Cleary, who is widely regarded as the NRL's best halfback. He says the form of the two playmakers for the remainder of the season will be crucial but that injuries could also play a major part.
"We'll just wait to see at the end of the year because I know Tommy Dearden would be chomping at the bit to get the green and gold jersey and I know he'll never let anyone down," he added. "And Nathan Cleary is in the same boat. Penrith are going to come good again I'm sure. They're in the top-six at the moment so I think anyone coming up against Penrith in the finals is in for a tough job."
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The Panthers are on a roll after winning five straight games to cement their spot in the top-eight, while North Queensland have lost five out of their last six to drop out of the finals spots into 12th place. Unless Dearden can help inspire a turnaround at the Cowboys starting with Thursday night's clash against the Dolphins, there's every chance his side won't feature in the finals, potentially handing Cleary a massive advantage for the Kangaroos role.
The Cowboys do have a favourable run home though, with six of their remaining seven games against opponents currently outside the top-eight. And with the Panthers beginning to look more like the four-time defending premiers in recent weeks, Dearden knows he will have to perform consistently to be a chance of ousting Cleary as Kangaroos halfback.
Dearden debuted for Australia in last year's Pacific Championships with Cameron Munster and Cleary out, before being the Kangaroos' best in the final against Tonga. But he said last week that it's premature to be eyeing off the No.7 jersey for Australia and insisted that Cleary was still the game's premier player.
"I think Nathan Cleary is the best player in the game, he's the No.7 no matter what," the Queensland halfback said. "I'd of course love to be involved in the squad, but it's something that we don't have to think about until the end of the year. It's out of my control and all I can worry about is going back and playing good footy for the Cowboys."