'Hang their heads in shame': Broncos torched after Queensland Origin triumph
The halfback scored two tries and was sensational on Wednesday night as Queensland beat NSW 24-12 to reclaim the State of Origin shield. Dearden is now a two-time Origin series winner and starred as the Kangaroos won the Pacific Championships last year.
The 24-year-old's heroics on Wednesday night have once again exposed the Broncos' massive mistake in not retaining him. Dearden debuted for the Broncos as a teenager in 2019, and was part of the 2020 Brisbane side that finished last.
In 2021 he was dumped to reserve grade, and the Broncos effectively gave up on him when they allowed him to sign with North Queensland mid-season. At the time, the Broncos opted to prioritise other players like Brodie Croft, Anthony Milford and Tyson Gamble - a decision that looks very foolish in hindsight.
The Cowboys recognised Dearden's potential and threw him a lifeline, and it's paid off in spades. Dearden is now the Cowboys' captain and has helped turn them into a finals-calibre team since joining.
Speaking on SEN radio on Friday, Courier Mail journalist Padel turned the blowtorch on the Broncos and once again questioned why they let him leave. 'I've got to say that the Broncos should hang their heads in shame over this,' Badel said. 'He was in their system, he was in the Broncos academy, they were bringing him through. He was identified as a 15-year playmaker and he was just let go.
'In the end, they just lost faith in him, even though he was 21 at the time, and they were not convinced he would take the next step. And 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.'
Dearden's heroics came after Maroons coach Billy Slater made the incredibly brave call to axe captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans after Game 1. Dearden vindicated the call and proved it to be a masterstroke.
Broncos and Maroons legend Wally Lewis said on SEN: '(The selection of Dearden) turned out to be a wonderful call made by the selectors and the coach, and it worked. That's one of the best performances I've seen from a guy that was under enormous pressure, and he certainly deserves plenty of credit.'
RELATED:
Billy Slater's genius laid bare after exposing NSW State of Origin star
NRL world rallies around Queensland Origin legend after worrying news
Dearden's Origin triumph has sparked questions about whether he might take Nathan Cleary's No.7 jumper for the Kangaroos in the Ashes series later this year. Dearden and Mitchell Moses were the halves pairing when the Kangaroos won the Pacific Championships last year, but Cameron Munster and Nathan Cleary were out injured.
Conventional wisdom says Munster and Cleary will be 6 and 7 in the Ashes, but Dearden might have put his nose in front of Cleary. His combination with Munster that won Queensland the Origin series will also come into consideration when the Kangaroos team is picked.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Test cricket could 'bankrupt' nations
The traditional Test calendar could lead to bankruptcy for certain nations, Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg warned as he called for a slimmed-down schedule. Greenberg wants quality prioritised over quantity to ensure a viable future for red-ball cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently set up a working group to discuss the Test format and the potential to introduce a two-tier system. "Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe," said Greenberg. "I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK. "We're literally trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket." 'England and India provide most intense, dramatic and emotional finale' Is Test cricket financially sustainable? Is two-tier Test system 'greedy' or will it help cricket survive? Greenberg wants to see marquee series such as the Ashes between England and Australia - the 2025-26 series gets under way in Australia in 100 days' time - receive greater investment. The pulsating five-match series between England and India this summer was Test cricket at its finest. However, Australia won each of their three Tests in the West Indies by at least 133 runs, while New Zealand cruised to a comfortable series victory in Zimbabwe - winning one of the Tests by an innings and 359 runs. "We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something and has jeopardy," Greenberg added. "That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and profitable as it is - because it means something." The emergence of shorter forms of the sport has proved difficult for Test cricket, with T20 franchise leagues and The Hundred offering lucrative player contracts in domestic cricket, and adding further congestion to the global calendar.
News24
6 hours ago
- News24
Test cricket needs quality not quantity to stay alive: Australia chief
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg suggests a leaner Test schedule could benefit smaller nations, ensuring matches hold significant value. Greenberg used the Ashes series' extraordinary demand as proof of Test cricket's ongoing appeal in Australia. Proposals have been made for two Test cricket divisions to enhance competitiveness. For more cricket news, visit our dedicated section. Australia cricket chief Todd Greenberg on Wednesday said a slimmer Test calendar could benefit smaller nations because the five-day game was better 'where it means something'. Marking 100 days until the home Ashes series against England begins in Perth, Cricket Australia CEO Greenberg suggested quality not quantity was important in keeping the red-ball game viable. Rob Houwing | From the boondocks, bomber Brevis' message for T20 World Cup 'We're trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket,' he told reporters. 'We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something. 'That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and as profitable as it is - because it means something.' England have just completed a thrilling 2-2 home drawn series against India in front of sold-out crowds. At the same time, New Zealand and Australia romped to easy overseas Test series wins against uncompetitive West Indies and Zimbabwe teams respectively, leaving question marks over the quality of Test cricket in those countries. One idea is to create two or more divisions of Test cricket to keep it competitive, but Greenberg said he did not have a strong opinion on the ideal number of Test-playing nations. 'Let's consider what the future might look like,' he said. But the five-day game remained in rude health in Australia, Greenberg said, where interest in the Ashes had been 'off the charts'. 'This will be the biggest sports event in Australia this year,' said Greenberg. 'The interest is quite extraordinary with ticket allocations for 11 of the 20 days on sale already exhausted.'
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ken Hinkley responds after Collingwood premiership player linked with Port move
Outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has attempted to quell reports around Beau McCreery joining the Power having fended away questions regarding trade rumours. Hinkley is stepping down at the end of the season with the side unfortunately out of finals footy contention. And the outgoing coach has hit back at a number of reports around Port Adelaide making a play at Collingwood's McCreery on a four-year deal. The 24-year-old has been a pivotal part of the Magpies' success this season with his latest absence coinciding with Collingwood's dip in form. McCreery is contracted until the end of 2027, but reports suggest a number of AFL clubs are looking at the midfielder. Although Hinkley, who will depart at the end of the season after 13 years, admitted it was news to him if McCreery was being targeted by his club. 'I have not seen Beau at the footy club,' he said. 'If he has been here, I might not recognise him, but I think he's trying to get over a hamstring to get back and ready to play football for Collingwood.' McCreery has been in great form for Collingwood having helped a stellar midfield, featuring Nick Daicos and Steele Sidebottom, in 2025. Although he has only played one game of footy since round 15, which was the loss against Fremantle. But as an outgoing dig at the media, Hinkley hit back at the reports over the AFL trade merry-go-round. On Tuesday night, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon took aim at some 'half-baked' reports about his players having tried to shut down the speculation. On Wednesday, Lyon stopped his press conference short having suggested the questions directed at him shouldn't be about list management ahead of the game against Essendon on the weekend. And Hinkley has also moved to rubbish most of the rumours out in the AFL ether. Hinkley said most of the speculation never comes to fruition having also dealt with his fare share of rumours during his time as coach. 'Everyone gets linked everywhere, don't they, this time of year when there's an opportunity,' he said. "What I do know about footy is that about one per cent come true.' Ken Hinkley remains coy on Wanganeen-Milera links Meanwhile, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is the talk of the AFL world at the moment with St Kilda doing everything they can to keep him at the club. Although Wanganeen-Milera has been linked with a move back home to Adelaide. Wanganeen-Milera is yet to confirm his future and Buddy Franklin suggested the St Kilda star could be on the move with decisions late in the season normally leaning suggesting a player wants a change of scenery. 'I think he's gone, I think he's definitely going,' Franklin said on his podcast Buddy & Shane Show. 'For me, why would you hold out so long? This has taken all year. If the decision was to stay, it would've happened weeks ago I would've thought.' And while Hinkley remained coy on Wanganeen-Milera's specific situation, he also hinted the lack of clarification could also suggest the player might be considering his options in the AFL. Although the Port Adelaide coach of 13 years claimed he wasn't going to weigh-in on any player. 'History would tell you that long term, late in the season, those decisions do seem to go a certain way,' Hinkley said. "But I'm not going to make any prediction on any of that because I have no information and I can't help you in any way to predict the outcome. I do know that the young man that everyone's talking about, I can understand why everyone's talking about him.'
