Why rugby league needs more players like Penrith enforcer Jack Hetherington

JACK Hetherington is a wonderful throwback, a front-row enforcer who doesn't care about reputations and is brave enough — or crazy enough — to take on the game’s toughest men.

Matt Moylan of the Sharks is tackled by Jack Hetherington of the Panthers during the Round 18 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Panthers Stadium in Sydney, Friday, July 13, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

JACK Hetherington plays to his own soundtrack.

Tick … tick … tick …

Which is wonderful, right?

Especially for those among us who remember when such blokes — loose units, they called them — regularly bobbed up all over a rugby league field, and usually fists first, in a swirl all taped heads, flat noses and bloody violence.

And, no, this isn’t the type of stuff we’re supposed to talk up today.

Especially in 2018, when NRL matches are preceded by curtain-raisers of … err, touch footy.

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But on a night when the Panthers were all about youth, it was the kid from Young who, for a while, had everyone talking.

Most notably when walking to the tunnel at halftime, where he and Cronulla enforcer Andrew Fifita got into a verbal.

And no matter what the PR types say, when two men look like throwing down, fans rise. Especially when one is a bush kid said to be stronger than truck stop coffee.

Indeed, had there been time for holding breath, everyone would’ve.

Yet instead, in milliseconds, the pair not only traded f-bombs, but then got physical as Fifita pushing his younger rival, as he turned away, in the back.

Hetherington has been in furious form. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

And why?

“Dunno,” Hetherington shrugged afterwards. “There was some chat back and forth, then he pushed me.

“The big fella must’ve got a bit cranky so he pushed me in the back.”

Surely, though, he said why?

Maybe it was your late shot on Matt Moylan, when the Sharks scored, that riled him? Or any one of those tough lines you ran?

“Nah,” the 22-year-old deadpanned. “He just pushed me.”

Importantly, Hetherington refused to retaliate.

The fiery young forward fears nobody. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Maybe because after only eight NRL games, he already owns a couple of judiciary suspensions. Or perhaps the youngster was simply heeding advice delivered by his famous family advisers — pop Bill Mullins, uncle Brett Mullins and dad Brett.

Whatever, he not only held his nerve here, but all second half.

So any concerns about now being baited moving forward?

“Not really,” he continued. “Everyone is carrying on like I’m a grub but I haven’t done anything.

“I had one bad suspension in U/20s with a heap of carry over points.

Does rugby league need more players like Jack Hetherington. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

“There was a leg pull and a little crusher tackle. I couldn’t really help them but got cited. I’ve just got to tidy up my game a little.”

But please, not too much.

For if there’s one thing rugby league could always use right now — other than a genuine Wally Lewis medallist — is those personal rivalries that were once such a staple of the game.

And, sure, this game tried hard.

Like when Penrith prop James Tamou, somewhere in the running of this one, allegedly offered to throw down with Wade Graham. Right there in the middle of Panthers Stadium.

Or first tackle of the second half, Hetherington received the kick off. Then charged.

Tick … tick … tick …

Originally published as Why rugby league needs more players like Penrith enforcer Jack Hetherington