Jason Hetherington is an Australian former

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. Hetherington played club football for the

Gold Coast Seagulls The Gold Coast Chargers were a professional rugby league club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from New South Wales Rugby League season 1988, 1988 to New South Wales Rugby League season 1994, 1994, the Australian Ru ...

and

Canterbury-Bankstown Canterbury-Bankstown is a customary region of Sydney, Australia, in the south-western suburbs. The area is located around the Bankstown railway line, to the west of the St George region and to the south of the Inner West region. The suburbs ...

in Australia and for the London Broncos in the Super League.

Background

Hetherington was born in

Baralaba, Queensland Baralaba is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Banana in central Queensland, Australia. In the , Baralaba had a population of 314 people. Geography The Dawson River forms the western boundary of the locality. The town is located in the ...

, Australia.

Playing career

He established himself as a , but he started his career off as a . Hetherington made his first grade debut for the Gold Coast in round 1 1993 against the Western Suburbs at

Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a multi-use stadium in Leumeah, New South Wales, Australia, owned by Campbelltown City Council. It is the home ground of the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Wests Ti ...

. Hetherington made 15 appearances in his debut season as the Gold Coast finished last on the table and claimed the wooden spoon. Hetherington then joined Canterbury in 1994. Hetherington played for Canterbury in their 1994 Grand Final loss against the

Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby ...

. The following year, Hetherington was part of the Canterbury side which won the 1995 premiership defeating Manly-Warringah in the grand final. In the

1998 NRL season 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

, Hetherington played 27 games as Canterbury finished 9th on the table and qualified for the finals. Canterbury proceeded to make the 1998 NRL Grand Final after winning 4 sudden death elimination matches in a row including the club's famous preliminary final victory over rivals

Parramatta Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...

which is considered to be one of the greatest comebacks of all time. After being 18-2 down with less than 10 minutes remaining, Canterbury scored 3 tries to take the game into extra-time before winning the match 32–20. The following week, he played at hooker for Canterbury in the 1998 NRL grand final loss to the

Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club Ltd., commonly referred to as the Broncos, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos play in Australia's elite c ...

. Hetherington also gained selection for Australia in 1998. He also played representative football for

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, including one Man of the Match performance in the opening game of the 1999 series. In Super League he played for the London Broncos. In 2000, Hetherington was awarded the

Australian Sports Medal The Australian Sports Medal is an award given to recognise achievements in Australian sport to commemorate Australian participation in major sporting events. Original recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, offi ...

for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.

References

External links

Player Details at stateoforigin.com.auCanterbury Bulldogs profileBroncos boss blasts AussiesHetherington is April aceLondon Broncos profile
1970 births Living people Australia national rugby league team players Australian rugby league players Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players London Broncos players Gold Coast Chargers players Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players Ipswich Jets players Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal Rugby league hookers Rugby league players from Queensland {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1970s-stub