Broncos star Pat Carrigan could shift to prop as Michael Maguire considers position change

Broncos coach Michael Maguire is weighing up his first major coaching move since taking over at Red Hill, which could see Kangaroos star Pat Carrigan playing in a different role.

Michael Maguire is weighing up his first major coaching move at the Broncos which could see Kangaroos star Pat Carrigan shift to prop.

Carrigan and Kobe Hetherington are locked in a tense duel for Brisbane’s prestigious No. 13 jersey ahead of the 2025 NRL Premiership.

Carrigan has had a mortgage on his favoured lock role at Red Hill in recent years, developing into a Queensland Origin and Test star in the crucial back row position.

However Hetherington has his heart set on securing a starting role after rejecting interest from rival clubs and is putting the heat on Carrigan for the No. 13 jersey.

While Carrigan’s preference is to play lock, he has featured at prop for the Broncos and Maroons and played in the front row during Australia’s recent Pacific Championships tournament win.

Michael Maguire is considering shifting Patrick Carrigan to front row in 2025. Picture, John Gass

A move to prop alongside NSW Origin star Payne Haas would also give the Broncos one of the NRL’s most impressive front rows.

Maguire has a big decision to make and Hetherington said his goal was to become a regular starting player at the Broncos.

“That’s my goal and what I am trying to do this pre-season,” he said.

“Everyone wants to start. I just have to keep training hard and stay injury-free. I have got to give myself every opportunity to get that jersey.

“I don’t want to talk myself up too much but I’d like to think I play a tough brand of footy. I rely on my defence side of things.

“It’s a big challenge but I’m up for it. I’ve got to have a big pre-season.

“I can’t wait to start playing footy. I’m really excited about what’s happening at the moment, how we’re training and the feel around the club is unreal.

“Everyone is enjoying training. It’s been really good.”

Hetherington, 25, has experienced somewhat of a sliding doors moment at Red Hill.

He was given permission to explore options at rival clubs for last year by former coach Kevin Walters and had strong interest from Wests Tigers, among others.

However one of Maguire’s first recruitment decisions upon replacing Walters was to tell Hetherington he was wanted at the Broncos.

With Carrigan and Payne Haas at prop, the Broncos would boast one of the NRL’s most impressive front-row’s. Picture: Liam Kidston

Hetherington’s no-frills attitude, defensive focus and training ethic is what Maguire is hoping to base Brisbane’s cultural renaissance on.

Hetherington said it was nice to feel wanted at the club he has called home for the past five years.

“It is always good to know people want you and it raises your confidence,” he said.

“I never really wanted to leave here. I’ve only ever been at this club since I was straight out of school. I love this club and everything about it and the direction we are going in.

“It’s been tough, real tough. (Maguire) wants to install that tough kind of footy into us players.

“He is really good and puts a lot of time into you. He not only coaches you on the field but talks to you a lot about your personal life.

“Every coach is different. Madge focuses on all the little things. Working from the inside, tying in … real hard work.

“We might have had some people missing their jobs (last year).”

A Carrigan positional switch would free up Kobe Hetherington to start at lock. Picture: John Gass

The Broncos punched out a two-hour field session at Red Hill on Thursday and will next week head away on a team camp.

There is only a month left in what has been a brutal pre-season following last year’s disappointing 12th-place finish.

After turning his back on long-term offers, the off-contract Hetherington is hoping to prove himself to Maguire and secure an extension this year.

“As you can see with us training, it’s been pretty tough,” Hetherington said.

“This training is my sort of style, I like all that hard work and we’re really focusing on defence.

“The players have responded really well. Everyone is training full on and buying in.

“I’ve always wanted to be here. I signed as a young fella straight out of school and it’s home to me.”