MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Tom Dearden on the path to NRL greatness after dominant performance in Pacific Cup

We have just witnessed the emergence of the next true superstar in rugby league.

Tom Dearden was sensational as the Kangaroos clinched the Pacific Championships with a 20-14 win over Tonga.

The little Cowboys jack-in-the-box finished with three try-assists, three line-breaks and 161 running metres in a man of the match performance.

In such a fiercely fought final, they are incredible numbers from the Kangaroos five-eighth.

The 23-year-old took his game to another level for Queensland in this year’s State of Origin series and he stepped up even further when he pulled on the famous green and gold.

It’s hard to believe this was his first series for Australia – he looked right at home.

Dearden didn’t get the same headlines as halves partner Mitch Moses when they were selected, but he out-shone the Eels and Blues No.7 by a country mile.

He’s a constant threat to the defence and competes on every play. His defence is also top shelf for a smaller guy.

It’s easily the best footy I’ve ever seen him play and the Cowboys will benefit massively in 2025 if he keeps this up.

I was also impressed by Tom Trbojevic. It’s so good to see him running around injury-free – the poor bloke deserves a change of luck.

He scored two tries but could easily have had four or five.

Captain Isaah Yeo was outstanding. He was relentless in defence and was always there to make the crucial tackles.

I loved the way the Kangaroos kept turning away Tonga in those final 20 minutes with desperate goal-line defence.

When the fulltime siren sounded, they celebrated hard, which I was glad to see.

They showed a ton of passion in the Australian badge.

I also need to pay tribute to Tonga – and their fans.

The atmosphere at Commbank Stadium was unbelievable.

There was red and white all over the place – it was hard to spot any green and gold at all.

The Tongan players fed off that energy, flew out of the blocks, and genuinely had Australia on the ropes.

When winger Sione Katoa opened the scoring with a fantastic team try in front of a grandstand full of Tongan fans, it was a great moment for international rugby league.

But Australia was always going to win this game.

They had too much class and they took advantage when Tonga started making errors.

When Tommy Turbo scored early in the second half to blow it out to 20-4, it looked the floodgates had opened.

Tonga deserves a lot of credit for clawing their way back and giving the fans a great finish.

So, after that major blip last year – a record 30-nil loss to the Kiwis – normal service has resumed for the Kangaroos.

They are back on top where they belong.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

I’m a bit sad.

No more proper footy until March!

That’s when rugby league travels to Las Vegas again with four games on the schedule.

The Panthers, Sharks, Raiders and Warriors will be there for the NRL’s double-header; the Jillaroos will take on England in a women’s Test; and Super League clubs Wigan and Warrington will also clash.

Now this might sound funny after the success we had with the double-header at the start of last season… but I reckon the NRL needs to do more to make the Vegas experiment really take off.

Don’t get me wrong – it was a brilliant experience for thousands of travelling Aussies.

But it barely made a ripple on wider America.

The stadium wasn’t completely full and the TV ratings over there weren’t flash.

I’m calling on the NRL to splash the cash.

If we really want Americans to sit up and take notice of our great game – then we need them in the bloody stadium!

I would start by giving free entry to anyone who turns up for the game with a USA passport.

I’d also head out into the community with thousands of free tickets to entice locals to get to Allegiant Stadium.

That should increase the chatter and suddenly we might get some more airtime on sports channels over there.

The NRL should also sit all the Americans in the same section of the grandstand.

They should then sprinkle former NRL players (I’m available!) among the US folk to answer any questions they might have about rugby league.

It’s no use putting this extravaganza on for just Aussies, Kiwis, Poms and ex-pats.

We need to convert genuine Americans.

Like the saying goes, you gotta spend money to make money.

Lastly, I thought I’d finish my final column for the year with my personal highlight of 2024.

How can I go past the mighty Penrith Panthers?

To win four premierships in a row – in the salary cap era - is truly remarkable.

Their 14-6 grand final win over Melbourne won’t go down as an all-time classic.

But do you reckon the Panthers care? Not one bit!

They are an incredible team with an endless appetite for success.

One day I’ll be proud to tell my grandkids that I watched the Panthers four-peat.

The only question now is: can they make it five in ’25?

It would take a brave – or foolish - person to say no.