Brisbane are backing teenage playmaker Tom Dearden to hit the ground running, with the schoolboy sensation named to start at halfback in the Broncos' first NRL pre-season trial.
The 17-year-old, after making waves at schoolboy level last year for Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast, has been given a chance to continue that form this weekend in Warwick.
The Mackay product is just one of three young playmakers under lock and key at Red Hill who will see minutes against Queensland Cup outfit Souths-Logan.
Fellow emerging halves Cory Paix and Tanah Boyd have been named on the bench in a young Broncos side, featuring just five players with NRL experience.
Dearden's authority at training has impressed his more-senior teammates, who expect him to live up to the hype.
"He's shown us how good he is; he's deserved every accolade he's got lately and seem like a pretty special player," hooker Jake Turpin said.
"And he's definitely confident. That's one of the things that stands out to us.
"He's not afraid to get in front of some of the senior players and call it ... it's a credit to himself for coming in and not being scared."
Returning forward Patrick Mago said the teenager would learn plenty from training alongside incumbent halfback Kodi Nikorima.
"We all rate him and he's only going to grow," he said.
"I haven't seen much of him but have definitely heard a lot. It'll be good for him to get out there and show it."
