NRL Market Watch: Unsigned Kobe Hetherington wants to be a Bronco for life despite almost departing Red Hill for the Tigers

Michael Maguire rejected Kobe Hetherington’s move to the Wests Tigers and now the hard-nosed lock forward has made a plea for the new Brisbane coach to keep him at Red Hill for years to come.

Kobe Hetherington has urged Michael Maguire to keep him at Red Hill long term after the new coach blocked the Brisbane forward from defecting to the Wests Tigers in 2025.

Hetherington is unsigned at the Broncos beyond 2025 and the uncertainty around his Broncos future generated interest from rival outfits, including Benji Marshall at Concord.

After a mooted move to the Tigers was blocked by Michael Maguire, Kobe Hetherington wants to re-sign with Brisbane long term. Picture: NRL Photos

The Tigers were in deep negotiations with Hetherington about a move south of the border to Sydney before Maguire intervened.

Under former coach Kevin Walters, Hetherington had been given permission to seek a deal elsewhere with the club at the time prepared to release him from the final year of his deal.

But Maguire not only wanted Hetherington at Brisbane, the coach had designs to start the hard nosed forward at lock in 2025 and shift Pat Carrigan into prop.

Hetherington proved Maguire’s instincts correct, producing a hit man like performance in defence against Canterbury in Saturday’s trial at Kayo Stadium.

Speaking for the first time since cementing the No.13 jumper after Maguire rejected the Tigers move, Hetherington made a plea for the coach to re-sign him at Red Hill.

“It’s just wearing the Broncos logo, I got signed here straight out of school and it’s where I want to be. They signed me as a kid. I’d like to be here long term,” Hetherington said.

“Anytime you get to put the Broncos logo on it’s special so you know every time I get to put the logo on I like to go a hundred per cent.”

The hard working forward said Maguire’s arrival at the Broncos has helped him take his game to another level after initially being unwanted by the club last year.

“Everyone knows what Madge is like – he’s tough, and hard, and that’s how I like to play my footy,” Hetherington said.

Hetherington’s move into lock had raised questions about Carrigan’s role in the forward pack given the Origin star’s ball playing ability as the link man with his halves through the middle.

But Carrigan impressed up front against the Bulldogs in a 30-minute stint at prop, charging for 122 metres, alongside powerhouse Payne Haas.

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

Haas (ankle), Reece Walsh (knee) and Kotoni Staggs (quad) have all been cleared of any serious injury and will be free to take on the Sydney Roosters in a round 1 blockbuster at Allianz Stadium on March 6.

Staggs sent the biggest scare through Broncos camp after only lasting 13 minutes in Saturday’s trial as he hobbled off the field.

While Staggs has been given the green light for round 1, winger Jesse Arthars is confident Brisbane’s depth in the outside back can cover for any injury loss.

“I think that’s probably been one of the better things about the pre-season – we’ve got the depth there, and there’s a lot of competition for spots,” Arthars said.

“Everyone’s just working hard every day just pushing each other to be better, and it’s just rubbing off on every player.”