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AAP
AAP
Sport
Murray Wenzel

Dearden defies early NRL horrors to face ultimate Test

Kangaroos debutant Tom Dearden has been rewarded for a stellar NRL season with North Queesland. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Mal Meninga has hailed Todd Payten's historical captaincy call on Tom Dearden as the playmaker prepares for a high-stakes, full-circle Kangaroos Test debut.

The 23-year-old will partner fellow debutant Mitch Moses in the halves for Australia on Friday night against Tonga as the Pacific Championships begin at Suncorp Stadium.

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