Brisbane Broncos’ coach Michael Maguire is reportedly set to drop Selwyn Cobbo from the team, sparking criticism from NRL legends, including Justin Hodges. Cobbo, who celebrated his 23rd birthday this week, was initially named to play on the wing against the Gold Coast Titans for Saturday’s match, but reports suggest he will now be missing from the lineup.
This season, Cobbo has been shifted from his usual wing position after playing the first seven matches there, and was briefly moved to fullback due to Reece Walsh’s injury. However, with Walsh’s return, Cobbo has fallen out of favour, and the recent decision to replace him with Jesse Arthars for the fullback role appears to be a significant blow.
This downward trajectory for Cobbo is striking, especially considering he was once considered a potential $1 million player on the NRL market. Hodges, commenting on the situation during a Fox League broadcast, expressed concerns over Maguire’s decision to drop Cobbo, stating, “If you’re dropping a winger, it doesn’t really make sense.” He observed that Cobbo had performed reasonably well in an underperforming team, questioning the rationale behind targeting him when there are other players in the squad who may also need to be held accountable.
Fellow NRL veteran James Graham echoed these sentiments, criticising the decision to single out Cobbo amidst broader issues within the team. “To make Selwyn Cobbo the scapegoat for those performances I think would be unjust and wrong,” he stated on Triple M, asserting that Cobbo is not the root cause of the team’s struggles.
The impending axe on Cobbo may not only jeopardise his position with the Broncos but also diminish his chances of being selected for Queensland’s State of Origin team. After being overlooked for the first game, a standout performance against the Titans could have reopened the door for his inclusion, particularly after Queensland’s disappointing showing in their last game.
Cobbo is currently without a contract for the 2026 season, but his management remains optimistic about securing a new deal with the Broncos. There is speculation that if he enters the market, he might attract lucrative offers from rival clubs, given his potential and past performance.