The narrative around Cobbo's future in some quarters has been that either the Broncos or two other south-east Queensland clubs would be the only ones able to sign him due to his close attachment to his home Indigenous community of Cherbourg. The 22-year-old visits his home town, 265km northwest of Brisbane, whenever he can.
He made it clear after starring in a 42-18 win over Canterbury, after a positional switch from wing to No.1, that moving away from Brisbane would not be a barrier to him signing a deal with a club based in another state.
"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."
The Broncos are going to struggle to pay Cobbo what he can attract on the open market. The Queensland representative's ability to play wing, centre and fullback with aplomb makes him an in-demand talent. Thursday night's stellar display at No.1, just the third time he had started in the position in the NRL, reiterated his class.
New NRL franchises in Perth and PNG, set to enter the competition in 2027 and 2028, will no doubt have their eyes on him. It is a reason why he may elect to ink a one-year deal or extension for 2026.
Cobbo once wrote on a school blackboard in Cherbourg that he wanted to play for the Broncos when he grew up. He was asked if the club was ideally his preference to stay at.
"No, for now, I just want to play footy," he said.
"I will let my manager sort out all that. I will keep putting on the jersey and showing up every week and put a good performance in for the team."
He said he was not daunted filling in for the the injured Reece Walsh,
"It's the next man-up. I just love putting on any jersey," he said"It's not really a big responsibility. I just take it as another game and just have to do my job and do what's best for the team and get everyone sorted in the d-line … do my carries and just play my game.Cobbo, a physically imposing specimen, also showed that he had the aerobic capacity to play fullback, just like Maroons legend Greg Inglis did so well."He was my idol growing up, I loved how he played footy," he said"GI was one of the greats to play the sport and I just want to make my own name and show what Selwyn Cobbo can do."I have been watching what I've been eating and doing extra conditioning to get more metres in games and do more work for the team."I just love being around the action, not on the wing. I like being around the middle. I feel more free with the ball. I can run the ball at any time. I get involved more. That's what I love doing, getting involved."
11°C