TEENAGER EARNS NRL AUDITION
PBC STAR TO START IN BRONCOS HALVES
THE Broncos will unveil a 17-year-old Gold Coast halfback sensation that could hold the key to Brisbane’s No. 7 struggles.
Tom Dearden will pull on a Broncos jersey for the first time in Brisbane’s pre-season trial against Souths Logan in Warwick on Saturday.
Dearden is one of three young Broncos playmakers who will be rolled out by new coach Anthony Seibold with a view to the future.
The Broncos have struggled to find a star halfback capable of guiding the team consistently since the glory days of Allan Langer in the 1990s.
Dearden will start at halfback in the Warwick trial, with fellow youngsters Tanah Boyd and Cory Paix to come off the bench.
Hooker Jake Turpin said Dearden was capable of piloting the Broncos despite only having finished school last year.
“He’s shown us at training how good he is,” he said.
“He deserves everything he’s been getting lately. He seems like a pretty special player.
“He is very confident — that’s one of the things that stands out to us.
“He is not afraid to get in front of the senior players and overcall them.
“It’s a credit to him for coming in and not being scared.”
Dearden hails from north Queensland and was the Australian Schoolboys halfback last year while attending Palm Beach Currumbin.
Boyd is a fellow Gold Coast product from Keebra Park and Paix, from Toowoomba, has earned comparisons with champion Queensland No.7 Cooper Cronk.
All three playmakers have represented Queensland at age group level in recent seasons.
Incumbent Broncos No.7 Kodi Nikorima has constantly endured speculation about his future in the position and Brisbane has three quality candidates.