Slow, steady for Dearden
BRISBANE legend Darren Lockyer has warned the club must handle teenager Tom Dearden with care, as coach Anthony Seibold backs the 18year-old to steer the Broncos out of their form crisis.
Seibold has labelled the Palm Beach Currumbin graduate as the club’s best halfback and believes the rookie has the maturity to play the rest of the season after his impressive debut in last Thursday night’s 38-6 loss to the Rabbitohs.
Yet there are fears over burnout and if anyone can relate to Dearden’s situation, it is Lockyer. He made his topgrade debut off the bench in 1995 aged 18 years and 97 days, and went on to become Brisbane’s most-capped player with 355 games.
Seibold consulted Lockyer before blooding Dearden, who plays his first top-flight game at Suncorp Stadium in magic round against Manly on Friday. “It’s important that, as a club, we look after Tom,” said Lockyer, who played 11 games in his rookie season.