NRL 2021: Cowboys pull out big guns in chase for Broncos halfback Tom Dearden
The Cowboys are turning up the heat on the Broncos by selling Tom Dearden a dream that may be too good to refuse.
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The Cowboys are turning up the heat on the Broncos by selling Tom Dearden the dream of being mentored by Johnathan Thurston in a move that could leave Brisbane’s scrumbase stocks in crisis.
Fresh from securing Cronulla halfback Chad Townsend, North Queensland are going for the jugular, determined to land a one-two scrumbase punch by stealing the Broncos’ most promising young playmaker.
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The Cowboys are going hard for the off-contract Dearden. Not only have they tabled a three-year offer worth in excess of $1 million, North Queensland chiefs have played the ultimate trump card, assuring Dearden he will get the best mentor in the business in Cowboys legend Thurston.
Thurston was present when Dearden flew to Townsville in February for talks with Cowboys bosses and the Origin great has been a fan of the Broncos young gun since first meeting him at a Queensland junior academy program four years ago.
Dearden’s possible defection to the Cowboys would decimate Brisbane’s scrumbase.
With Anthony Milford unlikely to be retained next season, the Broncos would have only Brodie Croft as a specialist No.7 on their books next season if Dearden quits and Brisbane fail in their pursuit of Souths maestro Adam Reynolds.
Cowboys football-operations boss Micheal Luck said North Queensland aren’t satisfied with one scrumbase recruit in Townsend as they target Dearden ahead of Brisbane’s clash with the Eels in Darwin on Friday night.
“Now that we’ve got Chad, we haven’t ruled out Tom at all,” Luck said.
“We would still love to have him here and we believe they could work well together as a halves pairing.
“Discussions with Tom’s management are continuing and he is another talented young guy who could be a great fit for our club.
“He is still coming through and learning the ropes and we think Tom can do a wonderful apprenticeship riding shotgun with Chad and then potentially take over from him and be a long-term playmaker at our club.
“It would be great news if Tom accepts our offer.”
The Broncos will decide after the Eels clash whether to table a formal offer for Dearden, and how much the 20-year-old is worth at such a delicate stage of his career.
For all his talent, the 22-game greenhorn has not won an NRL game as a starting halfback in 14 appearances stretching back to Brisbane’s 8-2 defeat of the Warriors in May 2019.
While Walters wants to see more dominance from Dearden, the Cowboys have seen enough.
“Tom has shown some things we like, so we would love for him to be here,” Luck said.
“Tom grew up in Mackay, he was part of our junior academy five or six years ago and then he went to Palm Beach Currumbin (on the Gold Coast) to finish school.
“He has done a great job coming through the ranks during a trying period for the Broncos as a club.
“I know it’s a big decision from Tom so we will give him time and space.
“We know he is a wonderfully loyal kid, he has come through the system at the Broncos and if he leaves it’s a big decision for him, so we’re not putting any deadlines on him.”
Walters remains confident the Broncos will not lose Dearden as he ruled out chasing his halfback opponent in Darwin, Eels wizard Mitchell Moses.
“Tom is part of our system so at this stage we are not looking outside the circle,” Walters said.
“We don’t anticipate losing Tom. He is still learning the game but we see little bits of improvement in Tom each week and we expect that again from him against the Eels.
“We have been through everything with Tommy, he has a nice clear picture in his head about his job in the side and we are confident he can do that job for us (on Friday night) and moving forward as well.”
‘I’ll be back’: Cowboys Townsend opens up on Sharks exit
- David Riccio and Peter Badel
Chad Townsend has rejected any notion of seeking an immediate release from Cronulla - to escape the club’s contentious three-way halves battle - after inking a massive $2.3 million three-year deal with the Cowboys.
An emotional Townsend broke down to reporters after fronting his teammates with the news on Wednesday and revealing he had met with incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon, who wanted the playmaker to stay in the Shire.
However, Townsend said he had no choice but to accept North Queensland’s “too good to refuse” offer.
He also said the recent departure of former Cronulla coach and close confidant John Morris played no part in his decision to trigger an exit option in his contract that has allowed him to part ways with his junior club one-year prior to it’s expiry date.
“I went and met him (Fitzgibbon) face-to-face and told him the decision,” Townsend said.
“He’s been awesome Fitz. I wanted to be open and transparent with my decision and he said I was a part of his plans next year and he wanted to coach me.
“I really appreciated him saying that. But he completely understood this was about the security of my family.
“I said to Fitzy, ‘It’s my intention to get this out of the way and now it gives you guys time to go into the market and sign a player and then we can all just move on with some football.’’
Townsend’s departure from Cronulla’s 2022 roster has come as a major surprise to Sharks management who had planned for the premiership-winner to be on their books next season.
However, Cronulla suddenly have around $550,000 to chase South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds, while also needing to make decisions on off-contract halves Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson.
Johnson, on the comeback trail from an achilles injury, will play his first game this season for the Sharks against the Bulldogs at Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
It means that caretaker coach Josh Hannay has an oversupply of halves with the Kiwi spark, plus Moylan and Townsend, fighting for two spots in the halves.
Townsend was matter-of-fact that he had no intention of quitting the Sharks before the end of the season.
“I want to make it clear that my focus is purely on the Sharks this season,’’ Townsend said.
“I want to leave on good terms and my focus is playing finals football. I’ve played finals football the last five years here and I don’t expect that to change.
“I’m not looking to go to the Cowboys early.
“That selection stuff is out of my control. I met with Josh Hannay this morning and said to him, my focus is on playing well this year.
“It’s in my best interest for my career and my club to win some games and play in finals.”
Townsend was a vocal supporter of Morris as a coach prior to his exit last week, but he said his own departure was based on more personal considerations.
“My decisions in my life are based around what’s best for me and my family,’’ Townsend said.
“That’s it. Full stop.
“I understand people might say that (Morris’ exit was a factor) but it’s not the truth.
“It’s purely based on what is best for me and my family.
“I met with the Cowboys a few weeks ago and they put a really good offer to me straight away.
“In the end, it was too good an offer to refuse.
“It makes me emotional to think about … I’ve got three young kids at home and that’s why I made the decision to put them first.
“I had until round 13 (under the contract terms) to make my decision.
“But I had an offer on the table, it was a great offer and I didn't want to drag it on.”
Townsend, who grew-up supporting the Sharks as a young boy, said he would leave the club with memories he will never be able to surpass.
“I’ve been a part of the most successful era of this club’s history. To be part of that premiership winning team it’s a pinch myself moment,’’ Townsend said.
“I used to sit on that hill and wave my flag when I was a kid.
“There’ll be time when I finish up, I’ll be back on that hill again with my own young fella.’’
COWBOY CHAD: WHY I WALKED OUT ON SHARKS
— Peter Badel
Cowboys recruit Chad Townsend has broken his silence on quitting the Sharks, declaring he can provide the premiership-winning leadership that can rebuild North Queensland as a title force.
News Corp can reveal Townsend has formally advised Cronulla teammates this morning of his decision to quit the club at season’s end to sign a three-year, $2 million deal with North Queensland until the end of 2024.
With the Sharks battling salary-cap pressures as they attempt to keep off-contract duo Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson, one playmaker had to leave the Sutherland Shire and that man is Townsend.
The 30-year-old playmaker has amassed 141 games for the Sharks since his NRL debut in 2011 and had hoped to finish his career at the club after helping deliver Cronulla‘s maiden premiership in 2016.
Townsend has vowed to remain committed to the Sharks for the rest of the season, but is relishing the prospect of his move to Townsville in November, insisting his experience can haul the Cowboys out of the NRL cellar.
“My best attribute is providing a team with leadership,” said Townsend, speaking for the first time about his decision to leave Cronulla to finish his career at the Cowboys.
“I believe I know how to deliver a coach’s game plan while ensuring my teammates who need the space or the ball get it at the right time.
“It was an extremely difficult conversation with my teammates (telling them he had signed with the Cowboys) but I wanted to make my decision early so we as a team can focus on the season ahead.
“Joining the Cowboys is an opportunity to secure my family’s future as well.
“I feel it’s the right time in my career.”
Cowboys and Queensland Origin star Valentine Holmes, who won a premiership ring alongside Townsend at the Sharks in 2016, backed his former teammate to step up as the club‘s senior playmaker following the shock retirement of Michael Morgan.
“It was difficult to lose a player like ‘Morgo’, so to be able to secure Chad is a great buy for us,” Holmes said.
“Chad is exactly what we need.
“He will be the perfect game manager to allow ‘Drinky’ (five-eighth Scott Drinkwater) and I to attack where we need to.”
Newcastle-bound emerging playmaker Jake Clifford has struggled to be a dominant voice at halfback in the past 18 months and the Cowboys believe Townsend will provide some authority at the scrumbase.
Aside from being an outstanding goalkicker, Townsend is also viewed as a senior mentor to assist in the development of the next generation of Cowboys players.
“Chad carefully considered his future,” said his manager Chris Orr from Pacific Sports Management. ”He wanted to ensure he approached this process professionally and when he made his decision he informed all parties of his decision personally.”
Townsend said there is no ill-feeling with Sharks management and has pledged not to let his Cronulla teammates down for the rest of the season.
“I want Sharks fans and members to know that I‘m committed to this season,” he said. “I’m grateful for their support over the years.”
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