NRL 2020: Rising star Tom Dearden ends Brisbane Broncos contract rumours
As his pack fell down around him and more senior players failed to fire a shot, it was a teenage playmaker who was the one shining light against the Rabbitohs – and he wants to stay at Red Hill.
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Boom playmaker Tom Dearden says he has no plans to quit the Broncos and believes he can be the answer to Brisbane’s 20-year search for their most dominant halfback since Allan Langer.
Brodie Croft started the season at halfback but the Storm recruit found himself at five-eighth as coach Anthony Seibold backed Dearden in the No.7 hot seat in Friday’s Broncos-Souths showdown at ANZ Stadium – and while the team didn’t deliver, Dearden was both composed and daring in the 28-10 loss.
Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston rates Dearden a future NRL superstar and such is his talent, the 19-year-old has already attracted interest from seven clubs, including Brisbane’s rivals, the Titans.
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Dearden is off-contract at the end of next year, meaning he can field offers from November, and there were fears he was growing impatient earlier this season playing second fiddle to the Anthony Milford-Croft scrumbase alliance.
But Croft and Milford’s recent injury struggles saw Dearden start at halfback against Melbourne two weeks ago, a show of faith from Seibold that has fuelled the rookie’s desire to stay loyal to the Broncos.
“There’s been talk about interest in me but I want to stay at the Broncos,” Dearden said.
“I have been with the club since I was 13 years old and I haven’t spoken to any other clubs about leaving.
“It’s not even in the picture for me.
“I am contracted to the Broncos until the end of next year and I have no plans to go anywhere. I have learnt a lot from the staff and the players, it’s somewhere where I want to continue my journey and learning my football.
“I know results haven’t been great this year but the Broncos are a massive club. The club has every resource here to succeed and the group, staff and players work together well.
“The club has a genuine interest in developing players as good men first and I like that aspect of the Broncos.
“It’s been a disappointing year on the field but I want to be a part of turning things around at the club and that’s why I want to stay.”
Dearden was not be daunted by the clash with South Sydney at ANZ Stadium. Last year, he was thrown into the NRL cauldron against the same opponent at the same venue for his top-grade debut at age 18 in Brisbane’s 38-6 loss to the Rabbitohs.
“Last year, I was a bit nervous and a bit tentative in games, but this year I feel more confident about doing my job and having an impact on the game,” he said.
“I definitely feel ready to make my mark on this team.
“I worked pretty hard physically in the off-season and I’m now 19, so I have developed a bit more maturity wise as well.
“I know I’ve got a long way to go, I haven’t done anything yet in the game, but I’m confident I can make it in the NRL and that’s my ambition.
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“I am more confident speaking to the group and delivering orders. I have a really good opportunity now to take ownership of the No.7 jumper.
“At first I was a bit starstruck playing against a guy like Cooper Cronk, but then I realised there is where I want to be, the NRL is where I want to belong and I want to make my mark.”