Kobe Hetherington

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

I’d suggest his GF moving to Sydney for a job and Manly’s upped offer had more of an impact

Tell the Seib lovers that.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Right on. Hurley burley, I was a massive fan back in the day. As I suspect most young lads were.

Yes, one of the highlights of getting home from school in 1977/78.

I met her years later at a Palm Beach reception place she operated. I was tongue tied.

 

[Brookie1973]

Yes, one of the highlights of getting home from school in 1977/78.

I met her years later at a Palm Beach reception place she operated. I was tongue tied.

Had no idea she married one of the guys from AC/DC. If only I was a mega rich rock legend I could have had a shot. Oh well.

 

[CRPSI eagle]

Hopefully this means it's the last time we ever see Jake in the 13 Jersey.

I would run with this pack, assuming no other signings

13 Kobe
12 Burbo
11 Haumole
10 Jake
9 Simpkin
8 TKO

Bench forwards

Paseka
Navale
Bully

Prefer having Paseka off the bench going forward, and coming on with impact, with navale and bully.

Jake is finished and no way will add impact as starting prop, look at the Rooster young props and would carve him up.

 

[Brookie1973]

I wasn’t anti DCE……I was anti the way he decided to go on national TV to air his decision. Completely different to the anti sentiment in here about coaches & players before they’ve even put on the maroon & white!

Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. Daley has been around long enough for people to form an opinion on him. Like I said, the negativity will go away when we start winning consistently.

 

[Rocky]

Jake is finished and no way will add impact as starting prop, look at the Rooster young props and would carve him up.

If Jake needs to medically retire then fine. He should for sure. And we all know he is grossly overpaid.

But if you think he can't contribute 40 minutes as a prop in 2026 then you definitely watch a different game to me. 6 weeks ago he was our best player beating the Storm on their home ground.

 

[robbiea]

I understand Kobe’s younger brother, Osaka, has agreed to a train and trial with the Sea Eagles.

I think Osaka is Kobe cox’s brother .

 

[manlyfan76]

If Jake needs to medically retire then fine. He should for sure. And we all know he is grossly overpaid.

But if you think he can't contribute 40 minutes as a prop in 2026 then you definitely watch a different game to me. 6 weeks ago he was our best player beating the Storm on their home ground.

This year Jake made an average of 54 run meters
Zero tackle breaks .
1 off load total.
Five hit ups per game
2.5 post contact meters per hit up
Total run meters 840 (17 games)
93% tackle

And he will do what at prop exactly?

 

[Eagles4Life]

This year Jake made an average of 54 run meters
Zero tackle breaks .
1 off load total.
Five hit ups per game
2.5 post contact meters per hit up
Total run meters 840 (17 games)
93% tackle

And he will do what at prop exactly?

If he plays on in 2026, Jake will Captain and inspire the team, lead the middle defence, average twenty plus tackles per game (based on two twenty minute stints), tackle at 95% efficiency and compete at 100%.

 

[nightster]

I guess he is the Aloiai replacement. Remains to be seen who else we get in to replace Tevaga.

I reckon Navale is the replacement for Jaz

 

[nightster]

Brother?

From a different mother ..... and father

 

[Waz13]

This year Jake made an average of 54 run meters
Zero tackle breaks .
1 off load total.
Five hit ups per game
2.5 post contact meters per hit up
Total run meters 840 (17 games)
93% tackle

And he will do what at prop exactly?

Luv Jake, I think we all do. But man the game is moving past him so quickly now. Look at the game v Penrith and the last three games when he’s not been there. It’s pretty telling.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

One of the hardest decisions for a champion footballer is to know when to finish your career. Better to finish with your health and whilst you are still playing well rather than playing one or two seasons too many and to be remembered for the wrong reasons. Jake is 31 and has suffered a number of concussions. If he were my son I'd be suggesting to him that 2026 be his last season as our captain playing 20 minutes per half and reminding his that he has had a brilliant career and achieved everything there is to achieve in this game and he is already loved by the supporters and he will be remembered as one of our greats!

 

[Phobia]

IMO Jake is a lock, and a lock only. He doesn't have the running game for prop, as many on here have said.

However, he still possesses a running threat, i.e. 100kg of muscle running straight at you. Jake can also pass quite effectively, and I still think his quick pass is still a valuable skill. He does need to engage the line a bit more, but that's not a massive problem.

We have $1.1 million spent on him next year. That's not changing. So, the question is, how do we best utilise him?

Firstly, he should be our captain. Not even a question. His win rate in Origin, even if he does next to nothing on the field, shows the influence this man has. It's also why he needs to stay, post retirement.

He's not running 200 metres, and I think everyone recognises this... But he can still hit like an absolute truck, and offers a good pass to start a shift. Let Paseka and Taukeiaho do the running in the first and last stint, which they can do very well, and have Jake as a certified hit merchant or ball distributor.

He doesn't have to play 80.

 

[Eagles4Life]

IMO Jake is a lock, and a lock only. He doesn't have the running game for prop, as many on here have said.

However, he still possesses a running threat, i.e. 100kg of muscle running straight at you. Jake can also pass quite effectively, and I still think his quick pass is still a valuable skill. He does need to engage the line a bit more, but that's not a massive problem.

We have $1.1 million spent on him next year. That's not changing. So, the question is, how do we best utilise him?

Firstly, he should be our captain. Not even a question. His win rate in Origin, even if he does next to nothing on the field, shows the influence this man has. It's also why he needs to stay, post retirement.

He's not running 200 metres, and I think everyone recognises this... But he can still hit like an absolute truck, and offers a good pass to start a shift. Let Paseka and Taukeiaho do the running in the first and last stint, which they can do very well, and have Jake as a certified hit merchant or ball distributor.

He doesn't have to play 80.

Jake at lock in a job share role with Navale is definately an option. I would have Jake start off for both halves, with Navale finishing them. For this to work most effectively, we should have Hetherington play 80 minutes at backrow. Ideally, he would take a lot of his runs in the middle, whilst Jake is on the field and distributing. I would also go with a mobile bench of Brooks, Burbo, Navale and Bullemore, with Burbo given some time in the middle, as well as backrow if required.

Paseka
Simpkin
Taukeiaho
Olakau'atu
Hetherington
Jake

Brooks
Burbo
Navale
Bullemore

 

[Ohgeez]

Jake at lock in a job share role with Navale is definately an option. I would have Jake start off for both halves, with Navale finishing them. For this to work most effectively, we should have Hetherington play 80 minutes at backrow. Ideally, he would take a lot of his runs in the middle, whilst Jake is on the field and distributing. I would also go with a mobile bench of Brooks, Burbo, Navale and Bullemore, with Burbo given some time in the middle, as well as backrow if required.

Paseka
Simpkin
Taukeiaho
Olakau'atu
Hetherington
Jake

Brooks
Burbo
Navale
Bullemore

Hetherington is not a back rower.

 

[Eagles4Life]

Hetherington is not a back rower.

He seems to think he can handle that role. He has trained in that role with the Broncos. He has the workrate, fitness and mobilty to play backrow, so why not @Ohgeez

Hetherington: I can play on the edge if needed | NRL.com

Broncos workhorse Kobe Hetherington speaks to the media as the squad ramps up preseason preparations, following the break.

www.nrl.com

 

[JakeyB789]

Hetherington is not an edge backrower and is barely a starting calibre lock either. He played there during the first half of this year for Brisbane and it didn't work out as he doesn't really have the workrate or ball playing ability required for the position. Both him and the Broncos have been much better since he has moved back to the bench.

Very much like Bully in the way he looks, plays and where he's from, which is not a bad thing at all and given he is under 30 and not coming from a crap team I'm all on board for the signing, even if I suspect we have probably paid him more than he's worth. But we should play him to his strengths rather than shoehorning him into a different position like we've already tried to do for many other players over the years.

 

[Eagles4Life]

Hetherington is not an edge backrower and is barely a starting calibre lock either. He played there during the first half of this year for Brisbane and it didn't work out as he doesn't really have the workrate or ball playing ability required for the position. Both him and the Broncos have been much better since he has moved back to the bench.

Very much like Bully in the way he looks, plays and where he's from, which is not a bad thing at all and given he is under 30 and not coming from a crap team I'm all on board for the signing, even if I suspect we have probably paid him more than he's worth. But we should play him to his strengths rather than shoehorning him into a different position like we've already tried to do for many other players over the years.

Yep I get it @JakeyB789 but I am trying to find a place (that makes sense) for Jake in the team for 2026. I think we lose too much momentum if we try and use Jake as a starting prop, and his time is over as an 80 minute player at lock. What are your thoughts on the composition of the forward pack for round one 2026?

 

[JakeyB789]

Yep I get it @JakeyB789 but I am trying to find a place (that makes sense) for Jake in the team for 2026. I think we lose too much momentum if we try and use Jake as a starting prop, and his time is over as an 80 minute player. What are your thoughts on the composition of the forward pack for round one 2026?

I agree with you and think some are in denial thinking Jake still has anything left to offer, but the fact is he will be on $1m+ next year and likely the captain, so he will be in the starting side no matter what. We can't bench middles with actual go forward like Paseka or TKO for him, so he will still be the lock. Would play him exactly as NSW did in Origin last year.

My main hope is that the signing of Kobe doesn't hold Navale back, realistically he should be the one rotating with Jake as you mentioned, but with Waddell still floating around and Lodge/Brown likely back in the picture I can see him missing out again.