North Queensland's mid-season recruit Tom Dearden is confident he can secure the halfback jersey before Cronulla playmaker Chad Townsend arrives next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 20-year-old was granted an early release from Brisbane last month, while Townsend is set to join the Cowboys in 2022.
With 11 rounds remaining in the NRL season, the Cowboys halves pairing of Dearden and Scott Drinkwater are short of time to gel as they chase a finals spot for their side.
Dearden marked his Cowboys' debut in the role in a 50-18 thumping at the hands of Manly, but says confidence is growing in his combination with Drinkwater and it bodes well for his future in the No.7 jumper.
"It's awesome to play with Drinky (Drinkwater), he's been killing it on the field, he's a really skilful player and he's helped me out a lot," he said on Tuesday.
"The combination is something we'll just build on as the year goes on... and Chad (Townsend) coming up here next year is a really good opportunity for me to learn off someone who's very experienced and can also help me develop my game as a halfback.
"I want to keep working hard at training and want to be the halfback of the Cowboys."
Coach Todd Payten conceded it was a difficult situation for the 20-year-old to walk into, as he adjusts to new attacking and defensive schemes and communicating with different edge defenders.
Although Payten noted the halfback role is clearly Dearden's for the taking, he says there's no pressure on the 20-year old to deliver immediately.
"Whatever happens down the track happens down the track," Payten said.
"What we've got in front of us is Tommy is our halfback and it's his opportunity to press for that spot.
"We just need him to lead us around the park with his talk, he needs to kick well, he needs to defend well and I thought he did two parts of that pretty well (against Manly)."
Payten also downplayed the expected pressure on his two young halves to gel quickly, instead heaping pressure on his side to address their inconsistencies if they aspire to finish in the eight.
Rocked 48-10 the last time his side met Cronulla, Payten noted his side needed no extra motivation when they meet on Friday evening.
Australian Associated Press
