Kangaroos star Tom Dearden and partner Millie have announced the birth of their first child after a whirlwind weekend for the new dad.
Dearden left Australia’s Rugby League World Cup camp to be with Millie in Sydney.
He then raced back to Brisbane to pull on the No.6 jumper in the Kangaroos’ 36-22 win over Fiji on Sunday night.
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Dearden said he had had “a couple of sleepless nights coming into the game” but was overjoyed to have been there for baby Dolly’s arrival on Friday.
“It’s so exciting to be able to go down and witness my partner give birth to a beautiful little baby girl,” he told Channel 7 on the field.
“She’s so perfect.
“I’m so proud of Millie as well — she was a trooper. It’s so exciting.”
The couple officially announced the arrival on Instagram this week.
“The best birthday present I could have ever asked for,” they wrote.
“(On) 23.10.26, we got to meet our little girl. Dolly June Dearden.
“Our whole world, forever.”
Dearden will now balance the newborn stage with the final weeks of the Kangaroos’ World Cup campaign — as speculation also swirls on his NRL future.
He has been named to start in the No.7 jumper for Saturday night’s clash with Cook Islands, the last game before coach Kevin Walters settles on his halves for the semi-finals.
Dearden was in the No.6 role, paired with Sam Walker, against Fiji and will partner five-eighth Cameron Munster this weekend.
On their performances to date Munster and Walker appear to be the frontrunners with Dearden then likely to move into the No.14 role.
But Channel 7’s Ryan Papenhuyzen noted immediately after the Fiji game that Dearden has yet to receive a full game at halfback in the tournament.
“It’s a tough one because you’ve got Walker in the No.7 jersey (against Fiji) to play like a No.7,” Papenhuyzen said.
“Dearden came on (in the first game against New Zealand) and played like a No.7, tonight his role was a No.6. So very different, those positions.
“Do you give Dearden a full game at No.7 — hey, this is your team today, you control it and let’s see what you can come up with — but the competition isn’t that long.
“That’s the thing that’s running against us at the moment. Interested to see where he goes but, we say it always, good headache.”
While Dearden will chase a World Cup win while looking forward to time with his family, his NRL future is back in the spotlight two months after shutting down speculation.
Dearden has previously been linked with a move to Sydney — Millie runs a hair salon in the NSW capital — despite being under contract with the North Queensland Cowboys until 2029.
Now Kangaroos teammate Walker is on the lookout for a new club after the Roosters pulled their multimillion-dollar offer to the halfback.
A Walker-Dearden swap has been mooted since the Roosters’ bombshell statement on Monday night, though so far it appears to be little more than speculation.
Dearden last shut down the prospect of a move in August, saying the rumours had “had an impact on the personal life”.
“There’s been a fair bit of speculation getting around at the moment. There’s been a lot of suggestions that I wanted to move or leave the club,” he said.
“That’s not the case at all. I don’t feel like I should have to get up here and explain myself against speculation. It’s just been a whole lot of nonsense.
“I’m committed to the Cowboys until the end of 2029 and I think it’s a bit silly that you have to get up here and speak to a bit of nonsense that’s going around.”
Dearden made it clear that he was “not recommitting”.
“I’ve always been committed to the Cowboys and none of that has ever changed, so it’s a bit disappointing that my partner and family have had to deal with a lot of questions,” he said.
“It’s had an impact on the personal life.
“I’ve got a pregnant partner and I think when there’s speculation getting around like that, people are reading that and it gives them questions to ask and you always have to answer to people.”
