The Queensland champion’s heroics in State of Origin have re-ignited questions about Brisbane’s decision.
Kevin Walters has defended the Broncos’ decision to allow Tom Dearden to leave the NRL club in 2021, saying he needed to get out of Brisbane to further his career. Dearden was crowned Wally Lewis medallist after State of Origin 3 after helping Queensland regain the shield with a stunning display in the decider.
In the last seven months he’s won the Pacific Championships as Kangaroos five-eighth and the State of Origin shield as the Maroons’ halfback. But Dearden’s phenomenal few months has re-ignited questions about why the Broncos ever let him go.
Dearden was a highly-rated teenager while coming through the Broncos’ academy, and in 2019 he was handed his NRL debut at age 18. In 2020 he was part of the Broncos side that finished with the wooden spoon, and the following year he made a mid-season transfer to the Cowboys after Brisbane officials allowed him to leave.
At the time, the Broncos had Anthony Milford, Tyson Gamble and Brodie Croft as halves options, and all were receiving more playing time than Dearden. Speaking on SEN radio after Origin 3, prominent Queensland-based journalist Peter Badel said the Broncos should “hang their heads in shame” that they ever allowed Dearden to leave.
Kevin Walters reveals why Broncos let Tom Dearden leave
But speaking on his podcast last week, former Broncos coach Walters provided new insight into the situation. Walters had only just taken over as Brisbane coach from Anthony Seibold in 2021 when the decision was made to allow Dearden to walk.
Speaking on his ‘Inside Ball’ podcast with journalist Ben Dobbin, Walters said Dearden had been weighed down by expectations at the Broncos after continually being labelled the “next Alfie Langer”. Walters said the Broncos had become a toxic environment for Dearden to be in because of it, and he needed to get out.
“I’m going to clear the air here. Tommy had to get out of the Broncos,” Walters said. “I would have loved to have played with Tommy Dearden (as coach). I texted him after the game (the Origin decider), I said, ‘Mate, well done to you’.
“Unfortunately Tommy coming into grade was too early, I think he made his debut against Souths at age 18. Tom’s time at the Broncos was just the wrong time.”
When Dobbin asked if allowing Dearden to leave was the most “disgraceful” recruitment blunder in the Broncos’ history, Walters replied: “There were too many comparisons (to Langer). He was getting snowed under. He was getting hammered and I really felt sorry for him. He couldn’t show what sort of player he was.
The club was struggling. There was a lot going on and for a halfback to be under that sort of pressure at that age, his confidence was gone. I said to him, ‘Mate, this will be a good move for you’ (to the Cowboys) … to get out, and look at him now, look how he has kicked on.
“It’s happened before with Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith (being overlooked by Broncos scouts). The move up there has been so good for him. He has got out of the limelight and he can just be Tom Dearden. He is only 24 so he has another 10 years ahead of him. I hope that’s clear for everyone…He may end up at the Broncos again.”
Cowboys found a winner in Tom Dearden
Badel said previously: “It’s a credit to the Cowboys and Todd Payten, their coach, that they picked him up on a mid-season transfer. His confidence was absolutely shot, and they showed faith in him, they showed patience in him.
I spoke with Todd Payten, who said they could have put him in reserve grade, but he chose to keep in the NRL to get his confidence back. So well done to the Cowboys because the Broncos have lost a generational talent.”
