Brisbane forward Kobe Hetherington has five teams interested in his services after being given permission to negotiate with other clubs.
Wests Tigers, currently on a recruitment drive, are one of the Sydney outfits keen on the versatile 25-year-old who is seeking a club where he can start and play more minutes.
The son of former Queensland and Canterbury star Jason Hetherington is on contract with the Broncos until the end of 2025, but is set to leave a year early.
Hetherington’s manager Chris Haddad said his client had no issue with the Broncos or coach Kevin Walters. His decision is purely a professional one.
Hetherington can play on the edge or as a middle but the Broncos have only been inclined to start him when one of their regular run-on players is injured or on representative duty.
He has played 77 games for Brisbane, but in 19 of his 22 matches this year he has come off the bench.
“The Broncos have given Kobe permission to talk to other clubs but they also want a suitable replacement for him,” Haddad told AAP.
“Kobe is a starting player and he wants to start somewhere. He loves Kevvie as a coach and as a bloke and he loves the Broncos.
“The Broncos don’t want to lose him and if they had a starting spot for him he would stay.”
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds refers to Hetherington as the side’s “cattle dog.”
“Kobe has got a bit of that fight and mongrel in him like a cattle dog and just keeps going,” the captain once said.
Other clubs have also identified his workhorse mentality and knockabout Central Queensland ways.
“Kobe is an 80-minute player and potential Origin player,” Haddad said.
“His character off the field is a reflection of his character on it.”
Meanwhile, veteran Broncos winger Corey Oates appears set for his final game for the club against Melbourne on Thursday night.
The 29-year-old has played 215 games and scored 121 tries for the Broncos.
AAP reported last month Oates had not been offered a new deal and nothing has changed.
“The club haven’t come forward with an offer yet and they’ve said they probably won’t,” Oates told radio station KIIS 97.3 on Tuesday.
“I’m still hopeful I can change peoples’ minds pretty easily.
“I’ve got to go out there and perform the way I know I can. It would be nice to be offered one more year with the club.”
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