Kevin Walters axes Broncos halves after Tom Dearden defection

Kevin Walters is shaking things up for this weekend’s game against Gold Coast after Brisbane suffered a horror 40-6 loss to Parramatta in Round 7.

At Red Hill on Tuesday, Tom Dearden and Brodie Croft were training with the reserves while Anthony Milford and Tyson Gamble worked with the main squad, in a sign the club was preparing to trot out its fourth halves pairing in just eight games.

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Croft’s form has been patchy since joining the Broncos last year and the former Storm star has been in and out of the starting side this season. Dearden was also being juggled around as Walters tried to figure out his best scrumbase combination.

The coach appears to have lost patience with Croft while Dearden was banished to the reserves after it was revealed earlier this week he had signed with North Queensland.

Dearden had been touted as the Broncos’ long-term solution to their halfback woes but they’ll need to find another No. 7 after the 20-year-old inked a three-year deal with the Cowboys starting in 2022.

If Dearden’s demotion at training is any indication of what team will take the field for the rest of the season then the talented playmaker, who has played 22 NRL games, may be waiting a while to get another taste of first grade.

Tom Dearden is out.Source:News Corp Australia

Anthony Milford is in.Source:Getty Images

It’s no secret the Broncos face a long road to rebuild themselves as an NRL powerhouse after claiming the wooden spoon last year, and if Walters has an eye on the future, then cutting Dearden to give someone else a shot in the halves is his only option to prepare the side for 2022.

Milford was dropped two weeks ago and Walters suggested he was looking at a month on the sidelines at least, but the $1 million-a-season five-eighth — who has been one of Brisbane’s most heavily-criticised players — is in the frame to earn an early reprieve because of Dearden’s defection.

NRL reporter Chris Garry revealed Walters said on Monday Dearden would be picked on form, and wouldn’t be punished for signing with the Cowboys.

In a statement after Dearden’s impending departure was made official, Walters said: “Obviously we are disappointed. But we have clear priorities on who we are targeting to strengthen our roster going forward.”

“We will continue to work through that process in the weeks and months ahead.”

Dearden’s defection is another worrying blow for the Broncos, who have faced an exodus of young talent in recent times. Teenage fullback Reece Walsh starred on NRL debut for the Warriors after crossing the ditch earlier this season, while David Fifita has been at his destructive best since making a big-money move to the Titans.

It’s also got to hurt Brisbane fans watching 18-year-old halfback Sam Walker run around for the Roosters after the Queensland club failed to land the young gun’s signature.

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