Cowboys pinch Broncos’ best young half as Red Hill exodus continues

The bad news gets worse for the Brisbane Broncos with one of its most promising young stars joining the exodus from the under-fire club.

Tom Dearden of the Broncos is heading to Townsville.

North Queensland has reportedly stolen young halfback Tom Dearden from Brisbane.

Senior News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield tweeted the news on Sunday night.

Dearden, 20, was spotted touring the Townsville facilities during pre-season and now it looks like he will head north to play for the Cowboys from next year.

North Queensland announced the signing of experienced halfback Chad Townsend earlier this week.

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Speaking to Wide World Of Sports, league legend Andrew Johns said he doesn’t see Townsend and Dearden working well together in the halves.

“I don’t think they go together at all. I think they’re too similar players,” Johns said.

“When you talk about halves combinations, there’s got to be the yin and the yang. And the best example of that is Nathan Cleary and (Jarome) Luai.

“You’ve got Nathan, who is prepared and the game manager and plays the percentages, and then you’ve got the other hand: the extroverted risk-taker who just plays and doesn’t think and is just a ball of energy - and that’s why they go good together.

“So you need that alter ego and that yin and yang. I think they’re too similar players.”

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 19: Tom Dearden in action during a Brisbane Broncos NRL training session at Clive Berghofer Field on April 19, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

For Brisbane it will continue a worrying exodus of young gun talent from the club.

David Fifita went to Gold Coast on a rich deal and he scored three tries on Friday night for the Titans.

Reece Walsh was released to join the Warriors and he made his NRL debut on Sunday, playing at fullback and pushing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to a wing.

On Saturday it was revealed there’s 18 players in the crosshairs as new coach Kevin Walters looks to clean out the Brisbane roster.

Originally published as Cowboys pinch Broncos’ best young half as Red Hill exodus continues