"Locked in a duel": Positional shift for Carrigan proposed as impressive forward pushes for start

The Brisbane Broncos are reportedly considering moving Australian representative Pat Carrigan to prop for the 2025 season, opening the door for Kobe Hetherington to land the coveted number 13.

Carrigan won the Broncos’ player of the year last season from lock but regularly represents Queensland and Australia in the front row.

Coach Michael Maguire has been impressed with Kobe Hetherington during pre-season, especially the forward’s defence, and is considering the switch to allow him to start.

SEN host Julian King said the position change won’t dramatically change how the Broncos play.

“Is this such an enormous shift?” King questioned on SEN 1170 Mornings.

“They want to try and get Kobe Hetherington in the starting line-up, Hetherington and Carrigan are locked in a duel for the 13 jersey.

“Obviously Pat Carrigan has had a mortgage on that jersey in recent years… Carrigan’s preference is to play lock, but he’s featured at prop for the Broncos and Maroons.

“Hetherington has his heart set out on a starting role and he’s the one too who rejected interest from rival clubs. He wants to lock down his spot there at Brisbane.

“A move to the front row alongside Payne Haas is a pretty impressive front row… if I’m a Broncos fan, I’m more than okay with that, and at the end of the day, he’s just a really good middle forward.”

Across his 152-game career, Carrigan has started in the front row twelve times, compared to 100 times at lock. He has also played ten games at second row.

Michael Maguire takes over as head coach of Brisbane after Kevin Walters left the position at the conclusion of a disappointing 2024 season, which saw the Broncos fall from runners-up to twelfth.

The Broncos play their season opener on March 6 against the Sydney Roosters.