Latest news with #TomDearden
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Walters responds after Broncos accused of 'disgraceful' act towards Origin hero
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 may end up at the Broncos again.' RELATED: Ugly truth for Storm and Dragons fans as Melbourne star suspended NRL world rallies around Penrith Panthers legend after sad update 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.'
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lockyer doesn't regret losing Dearden
Broncos director Darren Lockyer says he doesn't regret the club's decision to let Wally Lewis Medal winner Tom Dearden leave the club to join the Cowboys.
The Age
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Lockyer doesn't regret losing Dearden
Broncos director Darren Lockyer says he doesn't regret the club's decision to let Wally Lewis Medal winner Tom Dearden leave the club to join the Cowboys.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I had to understand why I failed': How Nathan Cleary processed Origin shocker
'I think it sort of sums up the rugby league world, to be honest – it's just a rollercoaster a lot of the time,' Cleary said. 'You've got to ride those highs and lows, and obviously, there was a massive low last Wednesday night. 'I've been processing that and understanding it a bit more, just trying to learn from it and get better. I honestly think it will make me better as a player, as a person. And then lucky enough to get a win on Sunday [over the Eels] and now this [endorsement deal], so, again, it's part of the ride, and I'm enjoying it.' Cleary is a man who thinks deeply about rugby league, sometimes to his detriment. After the Origin III debacle it was a case of finding the balance between introspection and flushing it all together. 'In the past I've come out of Origins where I haven't performed well and I've just sort of tried to act like it didn't happen and squash it straight away,' he said. 'Whereas this one I sort of want to sit with it a little bit more and understand why it happened. 'If I get the opportunity in the future in Origin, how I can be better. I think that was important, but probably made it linger a little bit longer than what I would have liked. But I had to sit through that, and I had to face it and understand why I failed on that stage. 'Now that I have processed it, it's about moving on and putting those lessons into play. 'Obviously a big part of the season is coming up for us at Penrith leading into the finals and I want to be playing my best footy. I think it can help me to do that and help me in the future, too.' Asked what answers he found after a week of soul-searching, Cleary said: 'There's lots of answers. 'I probably won't go into too much detail with it, but sort of just for my own things moving forward there were a few things that maybe looking back I overlooked or didn't do well enough in the preparation. 'Then during the game it's just about capitalising on moments and, ultimately, I didn't do that, we didn't do that as a team, and Queensland did.' In the moments after the game, Cleary was consoled by eight Immortal and former NSW halfback Andrew Johns. 'He just said not to be too hard on myself and just offered some support,' Cleary said. 'I'm very appreciative of that. Obviously it's a bloody low feeling straight after the game, but having him come up to me – he's the GOAT [greatest of all time] in my eyes – so to have him there and offer some advice was great to have. I'm very appreciative of that.' Based on Origin form, Cleary is no certainty to wear the Australian No.7 jersey for the season-ending Ashes tour of England. Such was Tom Dearden's dominance of the series, after replacing captain Daly Cherry-Evans as starting halfback for the second game, that he was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal. 'I've got nothing but good things to say about Tom Dearden,' Cleary said. 'He's a freak of a player, and he showed that on Wednesday night; he was by far the best player on the field ... 'I haven't been able to represent the Kangaroos since 2022, so I would absolutely love the opportunity to do that. But obviously you've got to play well at the back end of the year. 'I think being a part of that and making that team will be a byproduct of this next period and playing well for the Panthers.' Loading Cleary and Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo have been rested for the Rabbitohs clash, but will return for next week's match against Wests Tigers. Cleary will do so more motivated than ever. 'Absolutely, the fire in the belly is definitely there,' he said. 'Last Wednesday night has only ignited it more. I just want to do well by my teammates and put my best foot forward for them and elevate us to positions to win games to be there at the end of the season.'
The Age
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘I had to understand why I failed': How Nathan Cleary processed Origin shocker
'I think it sort of sums up the rugby league world, to be honest – it's just a rollercoaster a lot of the time,' Cleary said. 'You've got to ride those highs and lows, and obviously, there was a massive low last Wednesday night. 'I've been processing that and understanding it a bit more, just trying to learn from it and get better. I honestly think it will make me better as a player, as a person. And then lucky enough to get a win on Sunday [over the Eels] and now this [endorsement deal], so, again, it's part of the ride, and I'm enjoying it.' Cleary is a man who thinks deeply about rugby league, sometimes to his detriment. After the Origin III debacle it was a case of finding the balance between introspection and flushing it all together. 'In the past I've come out of Origins where I haven't performed well and I've just sort of tried to act like it didn't happen and squash it straight away,' he said. 'Whereas this one I sort of want to sit with it a little bit more and understand why it happened. 'If I get the opportunity in the future in Origin, how I can be better. I think that was important, but probably made it linger a little bit longer than what I would have liked. But I had to sit through that, and I had to face it and understand why I failed on that stage. 'Now that I have processed it, it's about moving on and putting those lessons into play. 'Obviously a big part of the season is coming up for us at Penrith leading into the finals and I want to be playing my best footy. I think it can help me to do that and help me in the future, too.' Asked what answers he found after a week of soul-searching, Cleary said: 'There's lots of answers. 'I probably won't go into too much detail with it, but sort of just for my own things moving forward there were a few things that maybe looking back I overlooked or didn't do well enough in the preparation. 'Then during the game it's just about capitalising on moments and, ultimately, I didn't do that, we didn't do that as a team, and Queensland did.' In the moments after the game, Cleary was consoled by eight Immortal and former NSW halfback Andrew Johns. 'He just said not to be too hard on myself and just offered some support,' Cleary said. 'I'm very appreciative of that. Obviously it's a bloody low feeling straight after the game, but having him come up to me – he's the GOAT [greatest of all time] in my eyes – so to have him there and offer some advice was great to have. I'm very appreciative of that.' Based on Origin form, Cleary is no certainty to wear the Australian No.7 jersey for the season-ending Ashes tour of England. Such was Tom Dearden's dominance of the series, after replacing captain Daly Cherry-Evans as starting halfback for the second game, that he was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal. 'I've got nothing but good things to say about Tom Dearden,' Cleary said. 'He's a freak of a player, and he showed that on Wednesday night; he was by far the best player on the field ... 'I haven't been able to represent the Kangaroos since 2022, so I would absolutely love the opportunity to do that. But obviously you've got to play well at the back end of the year. 'I think being a part of that and making that team will be a byproduct of this next period and playing well for the Panthers.' Loading Cleary and Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo have been rested for the Rabbitohs clash, but will return for next week's match against Wests Tigers. Cleary will do so more motivated than ever. 'Absolutely, the fire in the belly is definitely there,' he said. 'Last Wednesday night has only ignited it more. I just want to do well by my teammates and put my best foot forward for them and elevate us to positions to win games to be there at the end of the season.'
