The toughness of North Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden to return to action weeks earlier than expected from a ruptured testicle did not surprise his schoolboy coach one bit.
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Aaron Zimmerle, who coached Dearden at Palm Beach Currumbin (PBC) High to national schoolboy title glory in 2018, has an anecdote about a wrestling drill known as 'shark bait' that showcases the 21-year-old's resolve.
It is an appropriate reference, given Dearden will line-up with the Cowboys against the Cronulla Sharks in Sydney on Saturday night in an NRL qualifying final.
"When you see players in a training moment or in a game moment there is usually an opportunity to flinch or to not flinch," Zimmerle said.
"Tommy is the bloke who won't flinch. I'd watch him play for us and just go, 'wow' all the time. The harder it got the more he would embrace any challenge .
"There is a video that I have got of him doing the 'shark bait' in a wrestling session where they wrestle everyone in a circle. It sums him up."
Zimmerle explained that 'shark bait' was a training exercise NRL clubs use where one player gets in a circle and wrestles others until defeated.
"Tom was getting more and more tired and the guys coming at him were fresh. He appeared done," Zimmerle said.
"This bloke has then flipped Tom and pinned him and I thought that he surely had won.
"In the next instant Tom has somehow summoned the strength to throw him off and reverse the position. I thought, 'how did he get out of that?' He just has that ability to find something extra inside.
"I remember it so well because it was a glimpse into his character. He didn't have a right to win but he found a way."
Dearden has enjoyed a breakout season at the Cowboys and shone in Queensland's win in the State of Origin decider on debut in the interstate series.
He ruptured a testicle in the round 23 win over the Warriors and was expected to miss up to a month, but returned a fortnight later in a 38-8 win over the Panthers sporting a protective box that UFC fighters wear to cover a sensitive area.
His Cowboys coach Todd Payten revealed at a recent luncheon that Dearden had told his surgeon to chop off the testicle if it was to impede him playing in the finals.
"That's tough, but no surprise," Zimmerle said.
"Tom realises where he was a year ago compared to where he is now and how that is something you have to cherish.
"He has gone from fighting for a position in the team to shining in a Cowboys side in the top three. Knowing Tommy, to win an NRL premiership would be high on his goals to achieve. He will stop at nothing to get there."
Australian Associated Press
