The move has been given a huge tick of approval from the club great.
Broncos legend Justin Hodges has questioned the future of Reece Walsh at fullback for Brisbane after praising the impact of Selwyn Cobbo’s shift into the No.1 jersey. With Walsh ruled out for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury, Cobbo was tasked with taking over the fullback role and he impressed in Brisbane’s stunning 42-18 win over the previously undefeated Bulldogs in round eight.
Cobbo had a try assist and four tackle breaks, and was an imposing presence at the back for the Broncos after running for 151 metres from his 18 carries. The sensational display from the 22-year-old had many good observers such as Maroons coach Billy Slater insisting that fullback could be Cobbo’s best position long-term.
Many argued that the Broncos looked like a better side with Cobbo at fullback instead of Walsh, whose erratic displays have often come under criticism. Walsh has a tendency to try and overplay his hand in attack and force plays that often result in mistakes. By contrast, Cobbo’s display against the Dogs was much more measured but still devastating enough to draw plenty of admirers.
And two-time premiership-winner Hodges said Cobbo’s presence at fullback was exactly what the Broncos needed to snap a two-game losing streak, after being unconvinced by Walsh’s previous displays in the No.1 jersey. “I think that’s (Cobbo playing fullback) what they need. It’s no disrespect to Reece, we love the way he plays but sometimes he can be a little bit too erratic. I just don’t think we need that,” the Broncos legend told News Corp.
“We’ve got so many dangerous players in that Broncos outfit, I think Selwyn just did his job… He didn’t try to get too creative, he didn’t try to draw and pass, he didn’t try to get on the block shape… When you have Reyno (Adam Reynolds), (Ben) Hunt, Billy Walters and the forward pack just let them do the work. That’s what Selwyn did, he just chimed in when he had too.”
Selwyn Cobbo touted as a long-term option at fullback
With veteran Brisbane captain Reynolds’ future at the club uncertain beyond this season and talk of fellow halves partner Hunt moving to hooker when Ezra Mam returns from suspension, there have been suggestions that moving Walsh into the halves could be the best move for Brisbane going forward. And while Queensland coach Slater rates Walsh’s qualities at fullback, he also believes it’s probably Cobbo’s “best position long-term”.
“He’s a different player to Reece and they’ve done this without Reece, put 50 points on the team that everyone’s talking about, without probably their most dynamic attacking player,” Slater said about Cobbo on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. “He’s (Cobbo) more powerful, he plays a different style. I thought he was really good. I think it’s probably his best position long-term… for a quiet guy he is always in the game.”
Selwyn Cobbo’s form creates contract dilemma for Broncos
Cobbo is off-contract at the end of this season and will likely attract huge interest from rival clubs, especially if he keeps playing the house down at fullback in Walsh’s absence. It could hand the Broncos a massive blow in their hopes of re-signing Cobbo, who recently rejected suggestions he’ll never leave the Broncos because he wants to stay close to his Indigenous community of Cherbourg, 265km northwest of Brisbane.
“Cherbourg is not going to run away,” Cobbo said. “It’s always home. I love going back home when I can. Wherever I go, I can always go back home.” Broncos coach Michael Maguire has consistently said he wants to keep Cobbo, but extension talks have been put on hold to allow the youngster to focus on playing at his best.
And the salary cap squeeze at Brisbane could make it even more difficult for the Broncos to keep hold of Cobbo, with a huge chunk of their cap taken up by big-money contracts for Walsh, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and Mam. The Broncos are also in advanced talks to extend Kotoni Staggs and need to sort out Reynolds’ future beyond this season. And more impressive displays from Cobbo at fullback could ultimately price the Broncos out of the ability to keep hold of their Origin star.