Jason Hetherington played in two Grand Finals in his whole career and has watched his son Kobe play in two in three seasons for the Broncos and his advice is simple: don’t waste your chance.
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Hetherington senior experienced the highs of winning a premiership with the Bulldogs in 1996 in a 17-4 victory over the Sea Eagles in one of the highlights of his illustrious career.
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But he also knows the devastation of falling one game short after the Bulldogs were blown away 38-12 by the Broncos in 1998 in the first Grand Final of the NRL era.
Ironically Hetherington’s two grand finals came against the two clubs that his son will play for after his move from the Broncos to the Sea Eagles next season.
Hetherington played 133 games during his rugby league club career and also played eight Origins for the Maroons and two Tests for the Kangaroos.
But with the exception of his rep career, the two games he remembers most are the two Grand Finals.
Hetherington junior has played 106 games for the Broncos since his debut in 2021 and has scored six tries, but Sunday’s Grand Final will be his last for the club for now at least given his move to Manly on a four-year deal.
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Jason Hetherington holds up Terry Lamb after the 1995 Grand Final win.Source: News Corp Australia
The 26-year-old is desperate to finish his time at Red Hill with a premiership and his dad reminded him of how rare these special opportunities are.
“He’s getting another crack at a Grand Final, which they don’t come around too often and he’s had two cracks in three years,” Hetherington senior told foxsports.com.au.
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“He’s having a good run at it, so hopefully for him, the club and the Broncos organisation, they can get over the line.
“But obviously with Melbourne as well, the quality in there and don’t worry, they’d still be smarting, their memories are 12 months fresher than the Broncos, so they have got a lot there in front of them as well.”
Kobe Hetherington lost the 2023 Grand Final to the Panthers.Source: Getty Images
Making his final game for the Broncos even more important is the fact Hetherington and many of his teammates lost the 2023 decider from a seemingly unlosable position.
While a win in the decider wouldn’t erase the Broncos’ loss to the Panthers two seasons ago after being three tries up, it would certainly be a moment of redemption for many of the players.
“They were definitely disappointed the whole lot of them,” Hetherington senior said of the Broncos’ last Grand Final appearance.
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“They had nine fingers on the trophy by rights really and let it slip, but obviously to a great side in Penrith.
“But it’s fish and chips wrapping on a fish box somewhere now, you’ve just got to move on and get ready and try and do it all over again, which fortunately for the Broncos they have bounced back and they’re getting another crack at it.
Jason Hetherington lost the 1998 Grand Final to the Broncos.Source: News Corp Australia
“So I’m guessing it will be lodged in the back of their minds that last 15 minutes a couple of years ago.”
But win or lose Hetherington could not be prouder of his son for matching his Grand Final appearances so early in his career and hopes there are plenty more opportunities to come.
“Bloody oath, it’s exciting for him and for the family,” Hetherington said.
“We are all bloody proud of him.”
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Hetherington and the family will come down from Gladstone in Queensland to be in the crowd at Accor Stadium on Sunday and he hopes the experiences from 2023 will help Kobe and his teammates in their preparations.
“He’s excited, getting ready for it,” Hetherington said.
Kobe Hetherington will join Manly in 2026.Source: Getty Images
“I guess a bit of a gradual build up and they just need to get through all the formalities and that first bit of a different week for them.
“But at least it’s not unfamiliar to them because they were in it a couple of years ago.”
It has been a whirlwind first and last season under Michael Maguire for Hetherington.
There were reports he was on the outer at the Broncos in 2024 with then coach Kevin Walters, before a number of clubs showed interest in his services for 2025.
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However, Hetherington senior revealed Kobe was always wanted at the Broncos and Walters and Maguire wanted to keep him.
“No, that was all sort of probably misunderstood a fair bit on what went on through the press, that wasn’t true at all,” Hetherington said.
Kobe Hetherington will play his last game for the Broncos in a decider.Source: Supplied
“He was a big part of Kevvie’s plans as well. And also obviously there was a lot of interest getting branded around from other clubs and he was still contracted with Brisbane anyway, so Madge said, no you are not going anywhere.”
While he has been a big part of the Broncos’ plans in 2025 and the club was hopeful of re-signing him in 2026, Hetherington chose to join the Sea Eagles next season on a four-year deal.
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While security was a part of it, his dad believes a new challenge after eight years at the Broncos was a big role in his son’s decision.
“Sometimes you just have got to chance your arm a little bit,” Hetherington said.
“Four years is obviously a lot safer than one year. But he backed himself and has been rewarded.
Hetherington has had his most consistent season for the Broncos in 2025.Source: Getty Images
“I was explaining when I talked to him about it, it’s a whole new beginning now.
“You’ve been at Brisbane for eight years, so now you’ve just got a bit of a reset on everything. You’ve got a whole new environment, new organisation, new players around you. Everything’s new.”
After spending his whole career at the Broncos, Hetherington believes the change of scenery in Sydney will allow his son to get out of his comfort zone and test himself in a new environment.
“You’re going to be living in Manly, so in a sense, I don’t think he was in a comfort zone because he was sort of going year to year,” Hetherington explained.
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“But just stepping out of that little zone where you can get a little bit comfortable at times. It’s an old saying that dreams are lost and buried in comfort zones.
“Sometimes you just have got to take the gamble and back yourself and he’s doing that.
“And Manly see a lot in him, which is good and he can add value to their organisation as well, so at least he’s going to chance it and have a crack at it.”
Hetherington will be a danger man off the bench for the Broncos.Source: Getty Images
Manly were not a part of the finals this season, but Hetherington believes his son will get a chance for more success at the Sea Eagles, but maybe not at surfing on his days off.
“They’ve got a strong roster too,” Hetherington said of Manly.
“They like a lot of clubs were decimated with injury. Losing key players certainly hurts your team.
“And I think they’ve got a really good young roster and he’ll fit in well there.
“Don’t know about the surfing part of it, I don’t think he is real good at that, but he’ll fit in well there.”
Hetherington played a lot of football with Manly assistant Jim Dymock at the Bulldogs and believes his son is in good hands with the Sea Eagles coaching staff.
“I think he’ll do well under Anthony Seibold and Jimmy Dymock,” Hetherington said.
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“There’s a few guys there that I’m very familiar with, that will look after him and help him settle in.”
However, Hetherington warned his son the last time he cleans out his Broncos locker with or without the NRL premiership trophy, will be an emotional moment.
“It is a big move for him and I’ve explained that, I’ve had to do the same going to Belmore,” Hetherington said.
“So he’ll be ready for it, I think it’ll be a good change for him. But I did say certainly when you clean your locker out for the last time, it will be quite emotional for you, so get ready for it.”
A premiership ring on his finger will make it a little easier no doubt, to match his dad in 1995.