Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has confirmed his interest in signing Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden to be the club’s long-term halfback.
Speaking with AAP, Flanagan put Dearden in the same boat as Roosters star Joey Manu as someone the Dragons could build their team around.
“Tommy’s very similar to Joey (Manu), in that if he decides I want to test the market …he knows that we would love to talk,” Flanagan told AAP.
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“He’s a young half, played Origin. Got the world at his feet.
“He could be the future halfback of this club for another five or six years. It would be silly not to investigate if he’s on the market.
“I don’t know if he is open to moving, we’ve spoken, but Tom is a different young kid as well. He doesn’t like the fanfare and the media and all that sort of stuff.
“We’ll respect that and when and if the time comes, well we’ll do our best.”
The 22-year-old has scored 24 tries in 80 NRL games for the Cowboys and Broncos since his debut in 2019 and has played one Origin for Queensland in 2022.
Dearden’s arrival could possibly offset Dragons skipper Ben Hunt’s return to Queensland if he was granted an early release, but Flanagan believes the pair and son Kyle can co-exist at the club.
“Ben would be that excited to have Tommy here at the club,” Flanagan said.
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“Ben’s frustration with the club is like many other people and many other supporters that we haven’t been winning.
“Ben wears his heart on his sleeve. And he’s the captain of the club that hasn’t done really well. So it weighs heavily on him.
“But every conversation from day one with Ben, I’ve said I’m not going to release him and there’s never been an argument of why or how.
“It’s always been ‘I understand Flanno, let’s move forward’.”
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Burton willing to fight for halves spot | 00:43
TITANS’ ROSTER MOVE SPARKS HUNT SPECULATION AMID STAR’S ENDORSEMENT
Titans fullback AJ Brimson would support the club making a play for Dragons halfback Ben Hunt after the club freed up a spot in their top 30.
The Courier Mail reported the Titans have released Treymain Spry by mutual agreement, which opens up a spot in their 2024 squad.
While Hunt is contracted to the Dragons for the next two seasons, he has been open about his desire to return home to Queensland for family reasons.
Speaking with the Courier Mail, Brimson labelled Hunt a ‘freak’ and backed the club to go after him if he became available.
“He’s a good player, he is a freak,” Brimson said Per News Corp.
“Any team that he’s in, he’s going to help play finals and win a comp.
“I don’t think ‘Flanno’ (Shane Flanagan) is going to let him go. We’ll see. Funnier things have happened.”
The Titans have Tanah Boyd as their incumbent halfback Tanah Boyd at their club, while five-eighth Kieran Foran is likely entering the final year of his career.
23-year-old Boyd has played 60 NRL games for the Titans but only cemented the halfback role last season.
33-year-old Hunt has scored 80 tries in 312 games for the Broncos and Dragons since his debut in 2010 and has played 17 Origins for Queensland and 15 Tests for the Kangaroos.
A player of Hunt’s experience and ability in such a crucial position could be the last piece of Des Hasler’s premiership puzzle.
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