The Cowboys are reportedly prepared to battle rival clubs to retain star five-eighth Tom Dearden, with multimillion-dollar offers looming for the young gun.
Dearden, 22, hit the open market on November 1 and North Queensland powerbrokers had already tabled a three-year extension worth $2 million.
Cowboys officials are also willing to extend that deal to four or five years if it confirms he will remain in Townsville according to The Daily Telegraph.
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However, Dearden’s agent had made it clear his client will explore his options, sparking a mammoth bidding war for his services.
While the Cowboys may not be able to compete with rivals’ offers, which could reach $1 million-per-season, coach Todd Payten is confident he will stay in Townsville.
“He knows how much we admire and love him and want him to stay at the club. He’s expressed the same in the last couple of months,” Payten said to News Corp.
“This is the right club for him, but it always makes me a little nervous when other clubs get a good shot at them.”
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However, The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read raised an interesting idea, questioning whether the Cowboys would let Taumalolo walk to re-sign a number of players.
Dearden, alongside Heilum Luki, are free agents this season and Reuben Cotter’s deal expires at the end of 2025.
These three players will command mammoth contract upgrades and Read questioned if the Cowboys could find a club to take his wage off their salary cap.
“It’s just not enough and they are in a really difficult salary cap position up there with Heilum Luki going to market even though he has an option,” Read said on The Daily Telegraph NRL podcast.
“Nanai is locked in long term, they’ve got some guys like Taumalolo and Val Holmes, so they are really restricted in what they can do.
“They’ve just got a lot of balls in the air the Cowboys and it just leaves them a little vulnerable, but Dearden is a good, good footballer.
“He’s got four years left on that deal Jason, and I mean it never goes over a million dollars but still, if he was on the open market now what would he be worth?”
“What do you do with Jason Taumalolo? His market value would be around $600,000 to $650,000,” Michael Carayannis added.
“If I’m looking for someone at the Cowboys… I’d sell him, I’d try and sell him. There’s value for him on the open market at $700,000.”
Read also revealed a rival club proposed they sign Luciano Leilua in an immediate switch, but the Cowboys turned that deal down.
“A club went through the front door, knocked on the front door and spoke to the CEO and said we will take Luciano Leilua off your hands, it will free up space for you to keep all these guys,” Read said.
“The Cowboys said no, Todd Payten doesn’t want to let him go, Taumalolo is a more difficult problem because he has got such a connection with the Cowboys.
“The club that went to them were happy to pay his (Leilua) full wage, he’s on about $750,000 or something.”
The Dragons are reportedly keen on signing Dearden alongside four other NRL clubs, meaning the Cowboys won’t be the highest bidder.
North Queensland have been handed a boost to their playmaking stocks elsewhere, with WWOS reporting Super League half Riley Dean has made the move to Australia.
The 22-year-old was granted a release by Warrington Wolves after he was stuck behind George Williams in the pecking order.
Now, he is reportedly set to join the Mackay Cutters and ply his trade in the Queensland Cup, hoping to force his way in to the Cowboys squad.
“We will wait and see how he goes – we have heard good things about him,” Payten said.
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