NRL Market Watch: Broncos table offer for Kobe Hetherington, Wests Tigers set to re-sign Api Koroisau
Brisbane have moved to stave off poaching raids for Kobe Hetherington, while the Wests Tigers could be only days away from shaking up the NRL player market as they close in on a two-year extension for Api Koroisau.
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Brisbane have moved to stave off poaching raids for Kobe Hetherington by offering a new deal to the Broncos hit man ahead of Sunday’s derby against the Titans.
The Broncos have tabled a two-year extension for Hetherington in the lead-up to Brisbane’s round 19 showdown with the Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium.
The Broncos are running out of funds under the salary cap with seven players still off-contract season’s end, including regular top 17 top liners Hetherington, Cory Paix and Corey Jensen.
The hard-hitting Hetherington has previously attracted interest from a number of Sydney clubs, including the Dragons and Wests Tigers, who almost snared his services last summer before Brisbane rejected a transfer.
Hetherington has also been linked with the Sunday’s opponents the Titans, who are understood to have made inquiries with the Queensland Origin hopeful’s management late last season.
But Broncos coach Michael Maguire insists salary-cap pressures will not force Hetherington out of Red Hill, with Brisbane tabling a fresh offer to keep him until the end of 2027.
Hetherington has yet to agree to terms but is expected to formally ink an extended contract with the Broncos in the coming weeks in the run to the finals.
The son of Canterbury legend Jason Hetherington was outstanding in last week’s epic 22-18 upset of the Bulldogs and Maguire confirmed the 26-year-old is a key part of his premiership plans.
“Kobe has been excellent this year,” Maguire said ahead of the Titans clash.
“He’s had a real impact for us.
“He started on the weekend with the Origin guys out, but he has been coming off the bench and lifting the tempo.
“Kobe is a real team man and he’s made a great impact with some of his runs.
“His defence has also been brilliant.
“Ever since I have been here, I have wanted that type of personality in the team and he has been able to show that.”
There were concerns about Hetherington’s future at the Broncos after he was dropped to the bench in the wake of Brisbane’s early-season form crisis.
Controversially handed Pat Carrigan’s No.13 jumper for round 1, Hetherington started 12 consecutive games at lock, but was relegated to interchange after Brisbane’s heavy 34-6 loss to Manly, which represented their sixth loss from seven matches.
Since returning to the bench, Hetherington has been a revelation, making a number of match-turning bursts and bone-crunching hits in four consecutive wins over the Titans, Cronulla, Warriors and Canterbury.
COWBOYS NAB WALKER BRO
The Cowboys have continued their recruitment drive with the signing of Queensland young gun Tyson Walker.
The younger brother of Roosters whiz-kid Sam Walker, Tyson celebrates his 18th birthday on Monday and has quit the Bondi club, agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with the Cowboys.
Tyson’s father, former Broncos halfback Ben Walker, said the five-eighth or halfback would relish being mentored by Queensland Origin star Tom Dearden.
“The Cowboys will be a good environment for Tyson,” Ben said.
“Tyson is skilful, fit and fast and I have known Todd (Payten) for a long time, so he will be well coached and he can learn a lot from an Origin player like Dearden.”
WESTS TIGERS TO LAND PLAYER MARKET BLOW
-Brent Read, Michael Carayannis
Wests Tigers could be only days away from landing a crucial blow in the player market as they close in on two-year extension for captain Api Koroisau.
This masthead understands that the Tigers and Koroisau’s management held productive talks this week regarding an extension to his current deal, which runs until the end of next season.
There is now genuine hope that the Tigers and Koroisau can finalise a deal next week once chief executive Shane Richardson and the team return from New Zealand, where they are playing the Warriors.
The extension will be for the next two years.
Koroisau’s signature is a crucial piece of the puzzle for Richardson and coach Benji Marshall as they look to turn the club back into a finals contender.
The 32-year-old – Koroisau turns 33 at the end of the year – had been linked with a move to expansion club Perth but the Tigers were always confident he wanted to stay, highlighted by their decision to let young star Tallyn da Silva leave the club.
“We’ve chosen his loyalty and leadership,” Tigers boss Shane Richardson said on NRL 360 on Monday night.
“We don’t have a lot of senior leadership and we felt that going forward that Api has done the right thing for the club. And more importantly he’s still an outstanding player.”
Da Silva will make his debut for the Eels off the interchange bench when they play Penrith on Sunday afternoon at CommBank Stadium.
Koroisau, meanwhile, will be focused on helping the Tigers get the better of the Warriors earlier on Sunday as they look to maintain the momentum they picked up with a drought-breaking victory over the Sydney Roosters last weekend.
Koroisau missed that game after suffering a head knock against Manly. The former NSW rake has played 57 games for the Tigers since joining the club in 2023.
There have been few poor games over that time, a period when he has been a loyal lieutenant for Marshall and one of the few shining lights in a side that has languished at the foot of the ladder.
News of his imminent retention shapes as a blow to Perth coach Mal Meninga, who only last month confirmed he would be talking to Koroisau as part of his plans to build his squad for the Bears entry to the premiership in 2027.
Those plans now appear in tatters as the Tigers close in on a deal that will keep Koroisau at the club until the end of the 2028 season.
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