Thurston takes teen half under wing
PETER BADEL QUEENSLAND champion Johnathan Thurston has emerged as the secret weapon in the development of a Broncos 17-year-old halfback whizkid being hailed the NRL’s “next JT”.
Recently retired Cowboys superstar Thurston is providing career mentoring to Tom Dearden as the Broncos teenager turns up the heat on first- choice Brisbane halfback Kodi Nikorima.
Dearden scored two solo tries in a sparkling trial debut against Souths Logan last week and will wear the Broncos No.7 jumper made famous by Allan Langer in tonight’s trial against Wynnum Manly.
Despite his slender frame and baby-faced features, Dearden can already bench-press 120kg. His high-school coach Aaron Zimmerle, who for- merly coached Tweed Heads in the Intrust Super Cup, rates Dearden the best playmaking talent he has seen in 20 years.
Now Dearden has an ace up his sleeve in Thurston. The Broncos rookie has joined the management stable of Sam Ayoub, the agent who signed Thurston as a 15-year-old and brokered his first NRL contract with the Bulldogs.
Thurston worked with Dearden during Queensland’s junior Origin camp in January, imparting the wisdom, tips and tricks that swept the Cowboys legend to a record four Dally M Medals.
“Tom has the perfect mentor in JT,” Ayoub said. “He is a very different player to Johnathan, but he has great maturity and skill for a 17-year-old.
“I took Tom to watch JT for his last game against the Titans last year, he has always idolised JT.”