Report: Three-way deal to trigger “frenzy of player movement”

NRL journalist Brent Read believes the Wests Tigers, Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys could trigger a "domino" of player movement.

With Brisbane’s Tom Dearden already signed at North Queensland for 2022, the deal has him headed to Townsville early, with the Cowboys’ Jake Clifford sent to Newcastle.

With a spot opening at the Broncos, the club is expected to target the Wests Tigers’ Billy Walters to link up with his Dad Kevin at Red Hill.

Read joined Triple M on Thursday where he detailed the move.

“I think the next month is going to be a frenzy of player movement and the Broncos will be at the heart of it,” Read said.

“Tom Dearden has not been sighted for a month or so. I think this is going to be a domino effect. I think next week the Cowboys will ask the question again about Tom Dearden, I suspect they will get him early.

“That will mean Jake Clifford can move to Newcastle and he will almost certainly move straight away. That’ll free up a spot at the Broncos and there’s a young kid named Billy Walters and I think they’ll be asking the question of the Tigers.

“Provided the Broncos are willing to release Tom Dearden and I don’t see why they wouldn’t, the kid isn’t getting a game at the moment. That will set off the chain of events that may lead to Billy Walters join his dad at Broncos this season.”

It is believed that the deal could go through as soon as next month.