NRL 2022: Kobe Hetherington on mission to be Broncos’ version of Roosters hardman Victor Radley
Broncos lock Kobe Hetherington is determined to make an impact in 2022 and is moulding his game on one of the NRL’s most fearsome forwards.
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Broncos lock Kobe Hetherington is attempting to become Brisbane’s version of Roosters hardman Victor Radley as the son-of-a-gun prepares for a sibling showdown in 2022.
Hetherington’s twin brother Zac is training with the Canterbury Bulldogs and pushing to make his NRL debut next year.
Zac was picked up by the Bulldogs over the off-season following a strong performance in Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup this year, playing 15 games for the Ipswich Jets.
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The Broncos are scheduled to play the Bulldogs in Round 2 next year and if both brothers are named for their respective sides, it’s set to be a blockbuster clash.
“It’ll be a bloodbath that’s for sure,” Hetherington said.
The twins are the sons of Canterbury and Queensland great Jason Hetherington, who played 118 games for the Bulldogs during the 1990s as well as eight games for the Maroons.
Both have adopted their father’s tough-as-nails approach to footy and the Brisbane-based twin admitted he would like to see his brother make his NRL debut next year.
“He’s tough,” he said. “He works hard and has always trained hard.
“I hope he gets the opportunity next year.
“It’s his first real NRL pre-season and he’s feeling it.”
The Broncos backrower is battling a hamstring strain this week, after injuring it during Tuesday’s training session at Red Hill, but was confident he will make a full recovery by next week.
“I’ve just got a hammy strain, nothing too serious,” he said after training on Thursday.
“I’m just going to work back into it and probably train again on Saturday.
“I did it Tuesday, towards the end of the session and I just woke up the next day and it was a bit sore and tight.”
The 22-year-old played 14 games for the Broncos last season, which earned him a two-year contract extension with the club. With the likes of Patrick Carrigan also eyeing off the lock position, Hetherington said he was attempting to become more like Roosters forward Victor Radley as a ball-playing, defensive lock.
“I started at hooker in my juniors and then went to lock when I put a bit of size on,” he said.
“I’m trying to keep my ballwork handy.
“I sort of want to mould my game on Victor Radley, to ball play a bit and have a real good defensive mindset as well. (I’m trying to copy) his toughness and ability to ball play.
“I just love the way he plays because he’s a real aggressive player.”
Old Bronco lays down challenge to young bucks
The oldest current Bronco, David Mead, has addressed his playing future at the club as an exciting new crop of Brisbane youngsters fight for a starting spot next year.
At 33, the winger is the oldest member of the Broncos playing group but admitted he still has what it takes to handle the rigours of NRL.
Mead is among a raft of Broncos players to come off contract at the end of the 2022 season, which also includes Herbie Farnworth, Jamayne Isaako and Corey Oates.
He also faces plenty of competition for a starting spot next year, with the outside backs stacked with talent through Selwyn Cobbo, Brenko Lee, Tesi Niu and Jordan Pereira.
Asked about his own future in the game, Mead admitted he was planning to keep playing until his time was up.
“The old age call comes in a bit, especially here at training,” Mead said.
“I’m the oldest in the squad but the legs are still working really well.
“I’ll keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m enjoying it, of course.
“I just have to be competitive and play first grade more consistently this year.
“Last year, from an individual stand point, it was a bit frustrating being in and out (of the team) but that’s what being part of the NRL is.
“You’ve got to be competitive and be consistent so you can play first grade consistently.”
Mead admitted the likes of Cobbo and backrower TC Robati were exciting prospects for the Broncos for the coming season.
The veteran played alongside the pair at Wynnum Manly Seagulls in last season’s Intrust Super Cup competition, playing all the way through to the grand final.
Both Cobbo and Robati have been earmarked as future stars of the club and Mead believed they had improved even further over the pre-season.
“They’ve got a bit more experience now in first grade and they’re still learning their apprenticeship here (at the Broncos) and in the Queensland Cup,” he said.
“This year, they’re going to be a lot more consistent.
“TC is a big body and hard to handle. If he can get a few k’s in the legs, he’s going to be hard to stop.
“The same with Cobbo as well.
“Cobbo is one of those guys where you can put him in centre, wing or fullback and he’s going to do the job really well (but) fullback or centre is probably his spot.”
The Broncos are entering their final fortnight of pre-season training this week and new recruit Adam Reynolds joined the squad for their Tuesday morning session, despite not being due back for another 10 days.
Isaako putting hard-won lessons of 2021 to work
Broncos fullback option Jamayne Isaako has opened up about his tumultuous 2021 season, in which he was dropped from the starting side, and how it’s motivating him to be better for next year.
Isaako was Brisbane’s No.1 man for the first 13 rounds of the 2021 season before a string of errors against the Dragons saw him cut from the starting side and relegated back to the Intrust Super Cup.
He was brought back into the side to play on the wing for the post-Origin period before he was again dropped for the final month of football.
The 25-year-old former Dally M Rookie of the Year admitted he wanted to put the tumultuous 2021 season behind him and use it as motivation to be better next year.
“I didn’t have the best end of the season and I wanted to be a part of those last couple weeks,” Isaako said. “In saying that, I love being here at the club and I’m all about learning and learning from my mistakes.
“Anything I can do to better myself, especially after not finishing the season off too great last year, it’s definitely been a motivation for me this off-season.”
It comes as Isaako’s name has been tossed around as a possible Dolphins signing for their 2023 season – a claim he said he knew little about.
“I’m leaving all of that stuff to my manager and focusing on training with the Broncos,” Isaako said this week.
In the meantime, the Kiwi international said he was out to prove himself to coach Kevin Walters and the rest of the Broncos coaching staff.
“I’ve been learning that you can’t take your position for granted over the past three years,” he said. “You get dropped and you get put back into the team, but it’s all about learning – that’s the best part about it.
“I like to think of myself as someone who likes to bounce back when faced with adversity like that.
“My main focus right now is to come into pre-season and put my best foot forward and hopefully prove to the coaching staff I want to be in the team and in a winning environment.”
Brisbane’s backline has become stacked with talent and Isaako’s fullback spot is under threat from the likes of boom youngster Selwyn Cobbo and livewire Tesi Niu.
The signing of Queensland Origin representative Brenko Lee and Jordan Pereira from the Dragons for the upcoming season has added further pressure on Isaako to lock down a starting spot in the side.
However, he said he was happy to play wherever was required for the team.
“I’m training wherever Kevvie wants me to play,” he said.
“I’m a team player so wherever I can get a spot in the team, I don’t mind.
“Personally, I just want to have a great pre-season and that’s what I try and do every year.
“We all know no spots are a given in a team, especially now at the start of pre-season so everyone is working hard for a spot.
“I started last Thursday and it’s been pretty tough to be honest. I woke up Sunday and I felt like I had been hit by a bus. It’s been pretty tough but it’s to be expected.”
Battle royale brewing in Broncos’ backline
While much of the attention has been on the Broncos halves pairing, a battle is brewing for the club’s outside back spots.
The Broncos have a handful of exciting, young outside backs, including Selwyn Cobbo, Tesi Niu, Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth, all vying for spots in the starting side for Round One.
Queensland Origin representative Brenko Lee and talented winger Jordan Pereira have also joined the Broncos squad this season to add to a welcomed selection headache for coach Kevin Walters, while the more experienced Corey Oates and Jamayne Isaako will be working to retain their spots.
Farnworth admitted there was a healthy competition for positions as the players near the end of their first month of pre-season this week.
“All the boys are such good mates but when it comes to training, everyone is trying to get into that starting 13 side,” Farnworth said.
“There’s a good bit of healthy competition between the boys and it will be interesting to see who gets the spot.
“If players aren’t doing well, they’ve got players behind them coming for their spots for the start of the season.”
Brisbane has begun locking down several of their key players long-term, including strike centre Staggs.
Farnworth, who is hoping to retain his centre position in 2022, said having Staggs back to full fitness will undoubtedly help Brisbane’s ambitious goal of making the finals next year.
“All the boys are feeling pretty confident,” Farnworth said.
“We’ve got some strike players and a mix of young and old. Having Tones (Kotoni) re-sign as well gives us plenty of confidence too leading into the season.
“It’s unbelievable having Kotoni back. He only played about four or five games last year but the games he did play he adds that spark into our side.
“We should be able to build on last year and achieve something pretty special.”
Farnworth joined Isaako this week to help announce Brisbane’s extended partnership with National Storage on the back of the Broncos NRL and NRLW jerseys.
“National Storage is born and bred in Brisbane and a fantastic success story for our city and our state,” Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said.
“We are proud at the Brisbane Broncos to be able to continue our partnership with a local business that has its roots in the local community and has grown to be such a success across Australian and beyond.”
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