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Brisbane coach Kevin Walters says they have clear priorities to bolster their NRL roster after half Tom Dearden’s signing with North Queensland was confirmed.
North Queensland have all-but sorted their NRL halves pairing for next year with the signing of Brisbane’s Tom Dearden.
The 20-year-old Dearden joins experienced Cronulla No.7 Chad Townsend in heading to Townsville for the 2022 campaign and worryingly for the Broncos is another young talent to depart Red Hill.
Both Dearden and Townsend have signed three-year deals with the Cowboys as coach Todd Payten’s revamp of their squad continues.
“Tom organises his team with great maturity… he’s a strong runner, he kicks well and he gets his body in front as a defender,” Payten said.
“He played first grade at 18, so it’s clear he has an abundance of ability and he’s been the stand=out half in his age group coming through the grades.
“On top of that he is a North Queensland kid, who is a really good person that is going to add significant value to our roster.”
Dearden has played 22 NRL games over the course of three seasons for Brisbane but has not been able to nail down a regular place in their starting side.
He joins a growing list of young players choosing to exit Brisbane after David Fifita (Gold Coast) and Reece Walsh (Warriors) departed in the past six months while Harry Grant (Melbourne) and Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters) were also part of Brisbane’s nursery.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said Dearden’s departure was disappointing but they “have clear priorities on who we are targeting to strengthen our roster going forward”.
After four losses to start 2021, North Queensland have experienced a recent run of form notching three consecutive wins under Payten – in his first season at the club.
Ben Hampton and Scott Drinkwater have showed signs of promise in the playmaking roles.
However, the off-contract Drinkwater has this year to prove his worth if he wants to compete for the No.6 jersey when Townsend and Dearden arrive.
The Cowboys have been linked to a number of off-contract halves in recent months to fill the void left by the recently-retired captain Michael Morgan, and impending exit of Jake Clifford, who will join Newcastle at the completion of this NRL campaign.
© AAP
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