Brisbane Broncos NRL: Tom Dearden’s last-ditch bid to win No. 7 jersey
Tom Dearden faces a nervour wait in his battle to win Brisbane’s No. 7 jersey, after starring for Souths Logan in a reserve-grade clash on Saturday night.
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Tom Dearden faces a nervous 48 hours to learn if he has won the Broncos’ No.7 jumper over Brodie Croft after his last-ditch audition for Souths Logan in their 30-28 trial loss to Redcliffe on Saturday night.
Souths Logan recruit Karmichael Hunt was not the only big-name star to appear at Brandon Park with Broncos coach Kevin Walters using the Intrust Super Cup trial to give Dearden, Corey Oates and Cory Paix a final chance to press their NRL claims.
Dearden and Croft are locked in a fierce battle for the coveted No.7 jumper with the duo both having stints at halfback at training in recent days ahead of Brisbane’s season-opener against Parramatta this Friday night.
Whether Dearden has done enough to emphatically settle the argument is debatable after he delivered a solid if not spectacular display for the Magpies in his final hitout of the pre-season.
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The highly-rated 19-year-old played 65 minutes and was impressive in the first half, scoring a try taking on the Redcliffe line as he piloted Souths Logan to an early 16-0 lead.
But after the break, Dearden was silenced in attack as the Dolphins dominated possession and began working him over in defence before the Broncos playmaker was given an early shower 15 minutes from time.
Walters will name his round-one squad on Tuesday and his trial-selection strategy suggests Croft is in the box seat.
While Dearden was handed specific instructions by Walters in his Souths Logan outing, Croft was given the weekend to rest up.
If Dearden is indeed Walters’ first-choice halfback, it would be a bizarre move to pitchfork him into a reserve-grade trial and risk injury just six days before Brisbane’s season opener against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium.
Just seven days ago, Dearden was halfback with Croft at five-eighth in Brisbane’s trial against the Cowboys, but it is understood Walters had concerns with Dearden’s control in the 34-18 defeat at Dolphin Stadium.
Speaking just hours before the Souths Logan-Redcliffe trial, Walters insisted he had yet to make a definitive call on whether Dearden or Croft would partner Anthony Milford in the halves for the 2021 kick-off.
“Tom knows what he needs to do,” Walters said.
“We’ve had a chat so I’ll keep it between him and I.
“I’m still undecided. They (Dearden and Croft) are neck-and-neck so I’m fortunate to have a good selection choice.
“Tom is playing for Souths and he can push his claims, while Brodie has the weekend off, so we will see what happens over the weekend.
“I’ve got quite a few guys playing trials over the weekend so I just want to see how they go.”
One of those players is Oates, who started in the back row for Souths Logan in a lethal left-side combination with Dearden and Hunt, who was named at centre.
Like Dearden, former Queensland Origin winger Oates played 65 minutes and looked comfortable in the back row, putting on a number of strong hits and running some good lines in attack.
Souths Logan coach Steve Bretherton said he had no idea if Dearden would edge out Croft as Brisbane’s halfback for the season opener.
“I honestly haven’t been told what the plan is with Dearden,” he said.
“I believe it’s 50-50, ‘Kevvie’ changed his mind again on Thursday when Dearden was back training at halfback.
“The only thing I was told was to get some minutes into Dearden and he’s got some things to focus on.”
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