Tom Dearden will play the State of Origin decider full of confidence after leaning on the advice of Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston.
Dearden made his Maroons debut at five-eighth in the Origin decider in 2022 when filling in for ill Cameron Munster.
He did a wonderful job in a 22-12 win in Brisbane to help the Maroons win the series.
Wednesday night is an entirely different proposition in what will be his first Origin decider in Sydney. He is now the starting halfback and the team will look to him to take control in the hostile environment.
Dearden has turned to Thurston ever since moving to North Queensland in 2021 and establishing himself as one of the elite NRL playmakers.
Thurston, who guided the Cowboys to the 2015 NRL premiership and is one of Queensland's greatest ever players, has helped the halves at the Cowboys at various stages and is now in Maroons camp as an assistant coach.
His advice has been invaluable to 24-year-old Dearden's understanding of what it takes to control a team.
"He has had a great influence. Since I was a kid, I have always watched JT and the way he competes and what he does on a footy field," Dearden said.
"I have always tried to emulate his actions on the field and it's been no different now. I have been quite lucky where I have had a fair bit to do with JT and when we are in camp or in North Queensland, he always has clips or videos to show me.
"It's never anything that you don't know, but it's going back to the simple things. When you speak to the great players like (Maroons coach) Billy Slater and JT, it always comes back to the simple things first and that's what I base myself on too."
Thurston has a loveable larrikin persona at times but Dearden said his football brain was second to none.
"He does know the game. JT was an instinctive player as well, but he does a great job of explaining that to you," Dearden said.
"When you are watching video with him, he explains so well what he thinks you can do to manipulate a defensive line and that's where he has been great for me."
Dearden had a stellar match in the 26-24 win over NSW in game two in Perth. His partnership with No.6 Munster blossomed and he more than held his own against the great Nathan Cleary.
"I wasn't daunted. Nathan Cleary is a great player and you always do your best to try and nullify or get one over him," Dearden said.
"I have really enjoyed playing alongside Munny. The last camp in game two we built that combination through the week and now we have that game under our belt.
" Hopefully we can grow our combination even more in game three."
