NRL news: Broncos star Kobe Hetherington gets surgery on torn bicep

The Broncos pre-season injury toll continues to mount, with one star set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after going under the knife.

Ezra Mam during Brisbane Broncos training from Red Hill. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Broncos have been dealt a cruel pre-season blow with young lock Kobe Hetherington going under the knife for a ruptured bicep just days before the team breaks for Christmas.

It’s the second biceps injury to rock Red Hill this year after English international Herbie Farnworth was limited to just 12 games in 2022.

Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard confirmed Hetherington was sent for surgery on Wednesday after rupturing his biceps during training.

“The surgery went well and Kobe is now recovering,” he said.

“He will be out for an extended period but is receiving the best quality care, and the club will be providing all the support that Kobe needs during that period.”

BRISBANE BRONCOS NRL Media Conference and training. Kobe Hetherington. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

It’s a disappointing end to what was a breakout year for the 23-year-old, who featured in 22 games and recently signed a contract extension to remain at Red Hill until the end of 2025.

Hetherington could be sidelined for the first two months of the 2023 season given the turnaround for a biceps injury is in the three-four month range.

It’s not a Christmas wish high on Kevin Walters’ list as the Broncos enter the Christmas break, however the coach has a number of options at his disposal to deputise for Pat Carrigan.

Keenan Palasia, Xavier Willison and Corey Jensen can all step into the front-row, as can young guns TC Robati and Brendan Piakura.

BRONCOS STAR SHUNS OFF-SEASON SURGERY

—Callum Dick

Broncos backrower Kurt Capewell says he spurned off-season shoulder surgery to be front and centre at pre-season training and spearhead Brisbane’s push for a finals berth in 2023.

The Maroons State of Origin star played through the pain as the Broncos went from top-four hopefuls to out of the finals race altogether and was earmarked for off-season surgery, but instead swerved the surgeon’s knife to re-join his teammates at training before Christmas.

“It was tough last season finishing the year off, we had a few injuries (throughout the squad) and my shoulder was one of those,” Capewell said.

“We decided to go no-surgery and just strengthen it right up and give it plenty of rehab which has been good. I’ve got it strong again now.”

The 29-year-old helped spearhead a Maroons boilover during the representative period and was a key player in the Broncos’ finals push, before struggling through the injury at the back-end of the campaign.

Following the dramatic form free fall and recent loss of Samoan international backrower Keenan Palasia to the Titans for 2024 the pressure is on at Red Hill for Kevin Walters and the playing group to deliver on the field next season.

Kurt Capewell is hoping to be apart of a Broncos resurgence in 2023. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Capewell has heard all the criticism but disagrees with the notion the Broncos are under pressure beyond the expectations the coaching and playing groups have set themselves.

“I wouldn’t say there’s too much pressure on anyone. We know what we’re capable of and it’s not a matter of expectation or pressure, it’s just a matter of not letting ourselves down and working hard together,” he said.

“I think we proved that to ourselves last season that we’re more than capable of playing some good footy, it’s just a matter of building on what we built.”

Brisbane has offloaded experience in abundance over the off-season and replaced it with youth, headlined by the return of Reece Walsh and arrival of former Wests Tigers playmaker Jock Madden.

The baby Broncos have gotten even younger but Capewell says it’s now on the club’s next generation of stars to follow Patrick Carrigan’s lead and make 2023 a breakout season.

“Once you get around that 80-100 games you develop a lot more as a player on and off the field,” Capewell said.

Reece Walsh’s addition to the Broncos is hoping to change their fortunes next season. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“Things become habit and you don’t have to think so much while you’re on the field and hopefully we can start to see that show a bit more with our younger boys. We have so much talent (at the Broncos) it’s just a matter of getting that experience under them.

“That’s what part of my role is, to help them where I can and lead by example on and off the field.”

The club on Saturday unveiled a brand new jersey design ahead of the 2023 season.

Is it the jersey in which the Broncos break their 17-year NRL premiership drought? Capewell says it could be, though it won’t be the fresh cut and colour that makes the difference.

“I’ve had a look at it and I think it looks great. It really embraces the classic Broncos colours and I can’t wait to get on the field (wearing it),” he said.

“I’m not sure if the jersey determines whether you win a premiership or not, but there’s no reason why it can’t be (the one). Now it’s up to us to make that happen.”

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds (left) and teammate Kurt Capewell show off the team’s new jersey for the 2023 NRL season. Picture: Zak Simmonds

BRONCOS STARS SUFFER DEVASTATING PRE-SEASON SETBACK

Fatima Kdouh

Brisbane’s pre-season preparations have taken a turn after two star players went down at training.

Coach Kevin Walters revealed Adam Reynolds suffered an ankle injury that is set to keep the skipper sidelined for most of the summer.

While NSW Blues prop Payne Haas limped off the training paddock with what also appeared to be an ankle injury.

“He’s (Reynolds) in the swing of it up until yesterday, he’s copped a knock on his ankle so he might be out for an indefinite (period of time) … Not a long period but he’s a little bit lame at the moment,” Walters told SENQ on Friday morning.

The mishap is an untimely setback for the playmaker leading into season 2023.

Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas have both gone down injured at training, with the skipper set to miss most of the pre-season. Picture: Getty Images.

The injury means another shortened pre-season at Red Hill for Reynolds, who only missed the bulk of last summer having played for South Sydney in the 2021 grand final.

“Last year we didn’t get him back until basically the New Year so he’s been in the trenches with the boys and doing all the hard work which he loves,” Walters said.

“He enjoys that part of it as well and he’s been great for us, as Kurt Capewell, the other elder member of our squad, they’ve both been really good.

“They’ve both (had) a full pre-season with us now into Christmas and they’ll join us after Christmas, so we didn’t have that luxury last year.”

Haas’ latest injury comes after the forward struggled with dodgy shoulders throughout season 2022.

Haas had ruled himself out of Kangaroos selection for the World Cup to focus on getting his body healthy ahead of the upcoming season.

Payne Haas skipped the Kangaroo’s World Cup campaign to focus on getting his body healthy ahead of 2023. Picture: Getty Images.

MAM GETS A KICK OUT OF ‘BIG-MOUTHED’ RECRUIT

—Callum Dick

Ezra Mam set himself two goals at the end of his maiden NRL season at the Broncos – get bigger, and be louder.

Brisbane’s No.6 packed on five kilos over the off-season and has returned to Broncos training fitter than ever, but he’s still working to find the commanding voice needed to steer a team around the park.

“Just more so the volume of my voice I think; sometimes I get the calls right but I’m just not loud enough. That’s something I have to learn this pre-season,” Mam said.

“Hopefully I’m working on it as much as I think I am and the forwards are hearing me, so I can get my calls right, be vocal and loud and relay those messages.”

Ezra Mam during Brisbane Broncos training from Red Hill. Picture: Zak Simmonds

One player with no qualms about being loud is the returning Reece Walsh, who has immediately set the tone from behind the line as he positions for a start at fullback in Round 1.

His kicking game will add another dimension to the Broncos’ attack next season and Mam knows building that combination through clear communication is crucial.

“It’s good having Reece there — being a left foot kicker on the left side of the field he obviously has more time to get that strike, so me and him just have a chat (about) who will take which kick in which areas depending on the systems we’re up against,” Mam said.

“Reece has got a big mouth on him so it’s good to have him on the field, you can always hear him. That’s good for us and will only help in the long run with his communication.”

Reece Walsh during Brisbane Broncos training from Red Hill. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mam’s first pre-season as an established NRL starter brings with it greater expectation but also a quiet confidence that comes from having been here before; granted he’s not quite at the level of halves partner Reynolds, who has rolled himself out for pre-season number 13.

Preparing for his sophomore season the 19-year-old says he hasn’t heard of the so-called ‘second-year slump’ and is unfazed by the pressures of backing up a promising rookie campaign.

But there are areas of his game he needs to improve. Some of which were laid bare as the Broncos’ promising year fell in a heap, punctuated by Mam being dropped for the final game of the season.

“I’ve never really heard of that before, that’s new to me,” Mam said.

Ezra Mam is unfazed by the pressures of backing up a promising rookie campaign. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s my second year so I’m just going to do what I did last year and try to work and improve on that. I’ve got another pre-season under my belt (and I’m) doing much better this pre-season than last year.

“(I’m focusing on) staying consistent with my reads at training and being able to take the collision now. Being my second year I’ll probably get targeted more.

“I think for me (the main lesson) was getting my decisions right on the field and certain calls I should have taken, and that’s just a big learning step being my first year.

“I’ve come in this year ready to learn and Reyno has been a big help in that part.”

Originally published as NRL news: Broncos star Kobe Hetherington gets surgery on torn bicep