North Queensland Cowboys captain Tom Dearden is reportedly set to recommit to the club.
It comes as rumours have swirled all season that the 25-year-old was considering asking for an early release from his $4 million contract, which runs until the end of 2029, to move to Sydney.
The 25-year-old and his partner Millie Oliver are set to welcome their first child in October.
And the successful hairstylist, who has a popular beauty studio in Sydney and calls the Harbour City home, according to Code Sports, is set to move to Townsville to support Dearden.
According to the news outlet, the star playmaker will front a press conference on Monday to confirm he will remain a Cowboy.
Both the club and Dearden’s camp have remained adamant that he would remain a Cowboy, despite the persistent rumours suggesting it may not be the case.
Code’s Brent Read told NRL 360 on Wednesday that personal reasons were behind reports of a move to Sydney.
“Tommy’s got a partner who lives in Sydney. She’s now pregnant,” Read said.
“She’s from and lives in Sydney, but I believe she’s moving up there now since she’s pregnant and there’s been some talk that there’s been some interest in Tommy leaving the Cowboys.
“The Cowboys have denied this several times. There were rumours that his management met the club to talk about potentially leaving if his partner can’t settle into Townsville.”
Dearden signed a five-year contract extension in 2023, taking him through to the end of the 2029 season.
His unique deal could see him become one of the NRL’s first $2m per year players, with reports that he has a clause that ensures he is paid 12 per cent of the club’s total salary cap from 2028 onwards.
If the NRL salary cap rises to $20m by that time, he would be due to earn $2.4m per year.
Dearden’s 2026 season has been derailed by injury. He has been unable to get back on the field for the Cowboys since Round 10.
Dearden suffered a syndesmosis injury during that match, and his return was pushed back indefinitely as a result of a high-grade peroneal muscle avulsion tear on his opposite leg.
The club expect Dearden to return before the end of the season.
Originally published as Tom Dearden makes huge call on NRL future after months of speculation