Kobe Hetherington, Brisbane Broncos, Jesse Arthars, Pre-Season Challenge, NRL season 2025

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Author: Colleen Edwards NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Mon 24 Feb 2025, 06:01 AM

Kobe Hetherington performed well in his final audition to return to Brisbane’s starting line-up and looks sets to claim the lock position for Round 1.

Hetherington topped Brisbane tackle count with 37 and ran for 89 metres as the Broncos claimed back-to-back Pre-Season Challenge wins after defeating the Bulldogs 30-14 at Kayo Stadium.

During pre-season, Hetherington has made no secret about his desire to secure the number 13 jersey, with coach Michael Maguire set to grant his wish, redeploying Pat Carrigan into prop, with the representative forward showing he was taking it all in his stride with his strong performance.

“We’ll see what Madge reckons, but I’m just going week-by-week and training hard; we’ll see what happens,” Hetherington said when asked about starting at lock ahead of Brisbane’s season opener against the Roosters.

“It’s a starting role, and anytime you get to put the Broncos logo on is special. Every time I get to put the logo on, I like to go 100 percent.

“(I am just) taking it week-by-week at the moment and just looking forward to Round 1 now.

“We have the week off now to train hard and get ready.”

Hetherington has been thriving under the direction of Maguire – “everyone knows what Madge is like – he’s tough, and hard, and that’s how I like to play my footy” – but also praised the support of Carrigan in embracing the positional shift.

“He’s buying into it,” Hetherington said. “There’s not much difference between lock and front row; we work good together and I can build off him, and I’d like to think he can build off me too.”

Reece Walsh with ice on his knee after coming off the field in Brisbane's Pre-Season Challenge win over the Bulldogs. ©Zain Mohammed / NRL Images

While the Broncos were happy to secured the pre-season title, there were some injury concerns for a number of key stars, with Payne Haas, Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs all leaving the game early. However any long-term issues were dismissed by the club.

“That’s great news (to hear their injuries were minor), we need them,” Broncos winger Jesse Arthars said after the game.

“They’re very important, they’re obviously our leaders so we look to them when it gets tough.

“Payno likes to lead from the front and that’s what we are going to need this season especially in the early rounds.