NEWS X marks spot as Broncos keep Hetherington

Newly-resigned Brisbane prop Xavier Willison has set his sights on a starting position as the makeup of the pack under new coach Michael Maguire takes an intriguing turn.

The 22-year-old, known affectionately as X, has signed until the end of 2027 while workhorse forward Kobe Hetherington will stay at the NRL club after Maguire told him that he would not be released for 2025.

Hetherington, who can play on an edge or in the middle, had been given permission before Maguire arrived to speak to other clubs about a possible move next season before his contract had expired.

Now that he is staying it has made the race for starting forward positions, along with bench slots, more of a contest.

The Broncos started Corey Jensen and Payne Haas in the front-row in 2024 with Australia forward Pat Carrigan at lock. The back-row was the domain of Jordan Riki and Brendan Piakura, when fit.

The club's 12th place this year has turned up the heat on all players to be at their best and earn their positions.

Willison, who mostly came off the bench in his 19 games in 2024, is aiming high.

"I want to go further. The goal is to push for that starting spot next year," he said.

"I have just got to have a good pre-season and work really hard."

Hetherington, 25, played a career-high 23 games in 2024 but only started in three of them.

His manager Chris Haddad told AAP that the request for a release boiled down to his desire "for more minutes and a starting position".

Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra were among two clubs keen on the rugged forward but they were not able to offer a deal as no release was forthcoming.

Maguire has been up front and Haddad said Hetherington would rip in to training under the new mentor.

"I have known Madge (Maguire) for 14 years and he is straight to the point with everything and a great coach," Haddad said.

"Madge said he just wanted a chance to work with Kobe for the next year and that he was not releasing him. The Broncos also do not have a suitable replacement. Kobe is happy to stay."

While lock is his best position, Hetherington can play in the second-row and he will keep the heat on Riki and Piakura.

The Broncos have rising prop Ben Te Kura, 20, back at training after injury ruined the back end of his rookie season.

Veteran Martin Taupau also re-signed for 2025 and will also be in the mix for a spot in the 17.

Canberra Times

 

[Big Del]

Left side with Piaks would make it a dangerous place for runners. They can both hit

It`s not the hitting Piakura needs to work on .
It`s communication with the players beside him and understanding of which runner to take .

Too many poor reads is his weakness . He is elite with his hole running . Bring the defence up to 1st grade standard and he`s an asset .

Kobe also has a nice offload it should be used more .I remember one that led directly to a try . But wasn`t seen again . More Reyno / Walsh following him . Rather than just bashing up the guts . That would take him to another level .

 

[theshed]

Makes sense. Hopefully he excels at it

 

[Battler]

Hetho needs to be playing big minutes (like close to 80) or he isn’t worth holding onto imo - he doesn’t bring enough impact off the bench. Hopefully madge can figure out how to make that work, whether that be starting in the second row and moving to the middle, or pat playing prop and hetho 13.

 

[Brocko]

Madge did also mention seeing Kobe as a 13 mostly, so maybe we do see more of Patty in the front row.

 

[Morkel]

Hetherington has been most effective when he gets in the ruck and uses footwork to tire out the middles. He can't really do that as much as a backrower, and he himself will be blunted if he plays bigger minutes. So I feel that, to play to his strengths, his ideal position is exactly what he's been doing - a shorter stint in the middle when fatigue is in the game.

To make it worse, if, like 2024, we simply aren't holding the ball enough to get some initial fatigue in to the opposition, he's pretty much useless.

I would happily be proven wrong should Maguire work out a way to better utilise him.

 

[Big Del]

To make it worse, if, like 2024, we simply aren't holding the ball enough to get some initial fatigue in to the opposition, he's pretty much useless.

Yep .
A lose ruck is when he excels . Bringing energy later in a half .
He was a sitting duck last year . But running one out also makes him easier to put a hit on . As we also saw . Ouch .

 

[Jedhead]

Kobe has shown he can fold 'em when he wants to, but last season that sort of disappeared. Whether that was the coaching staff telling him to play it as safe as houses in order to avoid sin bins who knows?
Aside from that his stepping and carries were way below his normal standard and his defencive reads were miles off at times. Add to this is shockingly poor ball security and it just seems to me he was going through the motions last year.
If he wants more minutes he has to earn the right - last year's efforts rightly saw him half-way out the door as he was close to absolute shite.