Manly Sea Eagles newcomer Kobe Hetherington has been hailed as one of the NRL’s toughest competitors after fresh details emerged about the punishing injury battle he endured en route to Brisbane’s premiership triumph.
As revealed by Nine’s Wide World of Sports columnist The Mole, the 26-year-old forward has undergone four operations in the space of four months following the Broncos’ grand final success. Hetherington had torn the meniscus in both knees just weeks before the finals and was urged by club medical staff to have immediate surgery — a move that would have ruled him out for the season.
Unwilling to abandon his premiership dream, and inspired by the legacy of his father, former Bulldogs hooker Jason Hetherington, Kobe chose to push through the pain. His condition worsened during the finals campaign when he ruptured both groins on the way to the decider against Melbourne, yet still refused to withdraw.
Despite the toll on his body, Hetherington astonishingly became the only Broncos player to feature in every match last season, often relying on painkilling injections to get through games. That courage and consistency were rewarded with a lucrative four-year contract at Manly and the ultimate prize — an NRL premiership ring.
Following short-lived celebrations, Hetherington began a demanding rehabilitation process, undergoing surgery on both knees and both groins. He returned to training late last year but was limited to upper-body gym work and is expected to resume running in the coming weeks. Manly are optimistic he will be available for their Round 1 clash against Canberra on March 7 at Brookvale Oval.
“He’s an incredibly brave and determined kid — his attitude has lifted everyone around him,” a Sea Eagles source told Wide World of Sports.
In a sport defined by toughness, few recent stories match Hetherington’s — a title earned through pain, perseverance and unwavering resolve.
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