The Brisbane Broncos will now turn their attention to re-signing three key players after Kobe Hetherington backflipped on a new one-year deal to follow his girlfriend to Sydney. It was announced on Monday that Hetherington will join Manly next season on a four-year deal.
The dependable back-rower had only recently agreed to a new one-year deal with the Broncos for 2026, but changed his mind and asked for a release when his girlfriend landed a job in Sydney. Hetherington had previously rejected an offer to join the Sea Eagles, but has now landed in Manly to follow his partner south.
“Kobe had agreed to terms with Brisbane but because his partner has a good job in Sydney, the Broncos were very understanding of his personal situation,” manager Chris Haddad said. “We had formally signed with Brisbane, we did agree to terms and they were good enough to let Kobe go. It’s a four-year deal from Manly, there’s a lot more security than what he had at the Broncos so it’s a good move for Kobe.
“We appreciate the Broncos for understanding things and I thank them. Kobe loves the Broncos and he is determined to win a premiership before he goes. They brought him there as a kid and now he leaves as an adult.”
Broncos to re-sign three players after Kobe Hetherington exit
The Courier Mail has since reported that Hetherington’s backflip will allow the club to re-sign Corey Jensen, Cory Paix and Jack Gosiewski. All three are currently without contracts for 2026, but the Broncos salary cap crunch has been made slightly easier by Hetherington’s departure.
Front-rower Jensen is believed to be in the final stages of negotiations on a new deal. He’s in his fourth season at the Broncos and cemented his place as a starting prop.
Paix and Gosiewski are two players that coach Michael Maguire has managed to turn around and get the best out of. Paix was told by previous coach Kevin Walters that he was free to leave, but Maguire insisted he was part of the Broncos’ plans and convinced him to stay.
The hooker has divided his time between first-grade and Queensland Cup over the last few seasons, but has become the Broncos’ starting hooker due to Billy Walters’ switch to the halves to cover for the injured Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam. Gosiewski won a starting spot in the back-row to begin the year, but has had his season derailed by injuries.
Kobe Hetherington links up with Anthony Seibold again
Hetherington is the son of Bulldogs premiership winner Jason, and has a strong bond with Manly coach Anthony Seibold. It was Seibold who turned Hetherington from a hooker (like his dad) to a lock when he served as Broncos coach, before Walters later handed him his NRL debut.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has likened him to a cattle dog because “he has a bit of mongrel and fight in him like a cattle dog and just keeps going”. Father Jason told AAP recently: “When Kobe and his twin Zac were five years old I would get them to tackle calves. I’d be doing all the cattle work and with the calves that I’d brand and let through I’d say, ‘go and tackle them boys, wrangle them, jump on them and ride them’. They would get in there and bulldog them and scruff them.”
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