Former Broncos star Gorden Tallis has raised concerns over the club’s prioritisation of two veteran playmakers over promising young talent, Selwyn Cobbo. The 23-year-old, who has recently been absent from the NRL for the past two weeks and is currently without a contract for the upcoming season, has reportedly expressed disappointment at the club’s reluctance to offer him a long-term deal, especially as he has been presented with a drastically reduced contract of around $300,000, a significant drop from his existing $650,000 salary.
The Broncos are in a financial bind, recently extending the contracts of Adam Reynolds, 34, for approximately $500,000, and centre Kotoni Staggs, believed to be valued at $700,000 annually until the end of the 2028 season. The decision to invest in older players has prompted Tallis to question the club’s future direction, especially considering the potential of Cobbo, who has represented Queensland in six Origin matches.
Tallis expressed his disbelief at the club’s strategy on Fox Sports, stating, “Cobbo is the future of the club… leaving $300,000 for a State of Origin player seems disrespectful.” He highlighted that Cobbo had performed admirably when brought back into the lineup. Meanwhile, Cobbo’s situation has caught the attention of clubs beyond Brisbane, with the Dragons reportedly interested in securing his services as they strategise for the future due to Clint Gutherson’s impending retirement.
As the June 30 deadline looms, St George Illawarra is keen to act swiftly in acquiring Cobbo, especially as discussions have arisen regarding Tyrell Sloan’s future with the club. Tallis believes that while experienced players are valuable, the club should focus on nurturing young talent like Cobbo and Coby Black, who recently led the Maroons to a successful under-19s Origin victory.
In summary, there is growing concern within the club regarding its financial decisions, which prioritise short-term gains over the development of young stars, potentially compromising its long-term success.