{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{about|the rugby league footballer|the famous cat owned by Jack H. Hetherington|F. D. C. Willard}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Jack Hetherington |fullname = |image = Jack Hetherington.jpg |image_size = 285 |position = {{rlp|PR}} |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|06|08|df=y}} |birth_place = Canberra, ACT, Australia |height = {{convert|190|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|107|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = Penrith Panthers |year1start = 2018 |year1end = 20 |appearances1 = 17 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = {{nowrap|→ New Zealand Warriors}} |year2start = 2020{{small|(loan)}} |year2end = |appearances2 = 6 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |club3 = Canterbury Bulldogs |year3start = 2021 |year3end = 22 |appearances3 = 20 |tries3 = 1 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 4 |club4 = Newcastle Knights |year4start = 2023 |year4end = 25 |appearances4 = 53 |tries4 = 2 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 8 |club5 = Melbourne Storm |year5start = 2026 |year5end = present |appearances5 = 4 |tries5 = 0 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 0 |new = yes |source = <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jack-hetherington/summary.html |title=Jack Hetherington - Career Stats & Summary |last1=Dollin |first1=Shawn |last2=Ferguson |first2=Andrew |website=Rugby League Project |access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref> |updated = 30 May 2026 | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = Brett Hetherington | mother = | relatives = Bill Mullins (grandfather)<br>Brett Mullins (uncle)<br>James Schiller (cousin) | children = }} }}
'''Jack Hetherington''' (born 8 June 1996) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} forward for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, New Zealand Warriors, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.
==Background== Hetherington was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. He is the grandson of Bill Mullins, son of Brett Hetherington, nephew of Brett Mullins and cousin of Canberra Raiders player James Schiller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/raiders-rookie-schiller-following-in-mullins-famous-footsteps-20220310-p5a3fk.html|title=Raiders rookie Schiller following in Mullins’ famous footsteps|first=Adrian|last=Proszenko|date=10 March 2022|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
Hetherington played his junior rugby league for the Valentine Devils and Young Cherrypickers.{{fact|date=July 2022}}
==Playing career== ===2018 & 2019=== In 2018, he made his National Rugby League début for Penrith against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Hetherington played 13 NRL games in his rookie season, later re-signing with Penrith until the end of the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2018/round-7/sharks-vs-panthers/|title=Sharks v Panthers|publisher=NRL|access-date=22 April 2018|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422133254/https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2018/round-7/sharks-vs-panthers/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2020=== On 18 June 2020, Hetherington was temporarily released to join the New Zealand Warriors on loan. In round 13 of the 2020 NRL season, Hetherington was placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Manly player Martin Taupau. Hetherington was later suspended for four matches after pleading guilty to the dangerous tackle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/08/07/round-13-judiciary-charges/|title=Round 13 charges Hall rolls dice; Lewis, Hetherington banned|website=www.nrl.com}}</ref>
In October 2020, Hetherington was released by Penrith and he signed a contract to join Canterbury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2020-transfer-centre-contract-news-offcontract-players-melbourne-storm/news-story/a1d403f5fbebe2b170174ad5103d6665?fbclid=IwAR0SizH39Jk9vhUjIx6zeByhYPFrej0fPcUJaMKDooT4ncZnh7DGzU_5LNc/|title=Penrith confirm departure of six players|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
===2021=== In round 6 of the 2021 NRL season, Hetherington was sent off after hitting North Queensland player Valentine Holmes around the head with a dangerous high tackle. Canterbury would go on to lose the match 30–18.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/jack-hetherington-sent-off-for-old-fashioned-coathanger-high-shot/news-story/edb0f2508c0c27e67b1373a83ab44fe3/|title=Jack Hetherington sent off for old fashioned coathanger|website=www.news.com.au}}</ref>
On 20 April, Hetherington was given a five-game suspension for his dangerous high tackle after taking an early guilty plea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-20/hetherington-accepts-mammoth-nrl-ban/100081722/|title=Canterbury Bulldogs' Jack Hetherington cops five-game suspension for repeated lack of discipline|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref>
In round 21, Hetherington was sent to the sin bin yet again after using a dangerous high tackle during Canterbury's 28-16 loss against the Wests Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2021-canterbury-bulldogs-wests-tigers-jack-hetherington-sin-bin-report-high-tackle/e357caff-b7a0-459b-bc79-df490d43ea2f/|title=Uproar as Canterbury front-rower Jack Hetherington cops another sin-bin in Dogs' loss to Tigers|website=wwos.nine.com.au}}</ref> Hetherington made a total of 17 appearances for Canterbury in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished last and claimed the Wooden Spoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-set-to-sign-max-king-and-braidon-burns/a9fa54c9-a224-4cc9-ae15-8a5dd1e74275/|title=Canterbury Bulldogs set to sign Rabbitohs star Braidon Burns, Storm prop Max King for 2022 NRL season|website=wwos.nine.com.au}}</ref>
===2022=== In round 3 of the 2022 NRL season, Hetherington was taken from the field during Canterbury's loss against Manly. It was later announced that Hetherington would require shoulder surgery which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-casualty-ward-injury-list-jack-hetherington-raymond-faitalamariner-bulldogs-jordan-riki-brendan-piakura-broncos-stefano-utoikamanu-wests-tigers/news-story/fad889f1c85e5ee0099f099bfa497c17?fbclid=IwAR1e8WisiF9amzHvkr6dBQD2IjGJ0hi4KmVrWd2vt1z1Y7dZJuK5pdCf9tg/|title=Double Dogs blow as star enforcer out for the season; Bronco set for sideline stint: NRL Casualty Ward|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
In June, Hetherington signed a three-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2022/06/10/knights-take-two-big-forward-steps/|title=Knights take two big forward steps|date=10 June 2022|website=Newcastle Knights}}</ref>
===2023=== Hetherington played 26 matches for Newcastle in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 5th on the table. Hetherington played in both finals games as Newcastle were eliminated in the second week of the finals by the New Zealand Warriors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-newcastle-knights-season-review/eb7fed33aeb7f61ca8030120#:~:text=The%20Knights'%20season%20was%20languishing,rugby%20league%20fans%20in%20general./|title=NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref>
===2024=== In round 8 of the 2024 NRL season, Hetherington was sent to the sin bin during Newcastle's loss against Canterbury. Hetherington was then spotted on video camera shadowboxing Reed Mahoney in the tunnel who had also been sin binned. Hetherington then punched Mahoney and the two players needed to be separated. Hetherington was handed a one-match ban over the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-jack-hetherington-and-reed-mahoney-incident-accor-stadium-tunnel-scuffle-bulldogs-knights-news-videos-highlights/news-story/78bbbf51da58116676b29c9cecb79bba/|title=‘Hate a smart a**e’: Knights enforcer breaks silence with a bang after scuffle suspension|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref> Hetherington played 21 matches for Newcastle in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 8th and qualified for the finals. They were eliminated in the first week of the finals by North Queensland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-newcastle-knights-season-review-adam-obrien-20240917-p5kb9j.html/|title=Brutal reality Newcastle must accept before solving confidence-killing 'riddle'|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref>
===2025=== Hetherington managed to make only seven appearances for Newcastle in the 2025 NRL season which saw the club finish last on the table and claim the wooden spoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-newcastle-knights-press-conference-adam-obrien-final-game-reaction-6610-wooden-spoon-rugby-league-news/news-story/0d2382b73d882446b5f5f57abf1a740b/|title=‘Bulls**t’: Dejected O’Brien struggles for answers after final Knights game|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref> He was released by the Knights at the end of the season, joining the Melbourne Storm on a one year contract for the 2026 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Storm secure trio of signings for 2026 |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2025/12/03/storm-secure-trio-of-signings-for-2026/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=3 December 2025 |date=3 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Goodwin |first1=Sam |title=Melbourne Storm confirm signing of playmaker from Panthers as three players join NRL club |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/melbourne-storm-confirm-signing-of-playmaker-from-panthers-as-three-players-join-nrl-club-234327784.html |website=Yahoo News |access-date=3 December 2025 |date=3 December 2025}}</ref>
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2018 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers |13 | | |- |2019 |2 | | |- | rowspan="2" |2020 |{{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers |2 | | |- |{{leagueicon|Auckland|16}} New Zealand Warriors |6 | | |- |2021 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |17 |1 |4 |- |2022 |3 | | |- |2023 | rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights |26 |1 |4 |- |2024 |20 |1 |4 |- |2025 |7 | | |- |2026 |{{leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} Melbourne Storm |1 | | |- | |Totals |97 |3 |12 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/newcastle-knights/jack-hetherington/ Newcastle Knights profile] *[https://www.bulldogs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs/jack-hetherington/ Canterbury Bulldogs profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416234715/https://www.bulldogs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs/jack-hetherington/ |date=16 April 2021 }} *[https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/penrith-panthers/jack-hetherington/ Penrith Panthers profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422132705/https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/penrith-panthers/jack-hetherington/ |date=22 April 2018 }}
{{Melbourne Storm squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hetherington, Jack}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand Category:Melbourne Storm players Category:Newcastle Knights players Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:New Zealand Warriors players Category:Penrith Panthers players Category:Rugby league players from Canberra Category:Rugby league props Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen