NRL 2023: Selwyn Cobbo fined $15k for podcast comments about coach Kevin Walters
The caveats on Selwyn Cobbo’s $15k fine for a podcast spray about Kevin Walters have been revealed as the Broncos coach addressed the comments and controversy.
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Kevin Walters insists Selwyn Cobbo has learnt his lesson after the Queensland Origin star was slapped with a $15,000 fine by Brisbane bosses for his stunning attack on the Broncos coach.
News Corp can reveal Broncos officialdom have formally sanctioned Cobbo following his explosive podcast interview last month in which the boom State of Origin winger claimed his club mentor Walters was not a good coach.
It is understood the heftiest penalty of Cobbo’s burgeoning career comes with some caveats.
The 20-year-old has been ordered to pay $10,000 to a charity of his choice, while Cobbo has also been hit with a suspended amount, believed to be $5,000, which will be activated should he be embroiled in another off-field incident.
The Broncos are putting Cobbo through off-field mentoring and training to help him avoid another drama.
Cobbo launched his 2023 campaign for the Indigenous All Stars in New Zealand on Saturday and he is under pressure to deliver for the Broncos this season in the aftermath of his savage critique of Walters which was viewed as unsavoury and disrespectful.
But Walters is adamant Cobbo is not a problem child and backed the Cherbourg product to become a better person and footballer for his gaffe on a little-known New Zealand podcast.
“We don’t talk about fines externally, we keep those things in house, I’m not sure how it got leaked, but I will say that Selwyn has certainly learnt from it,” Walters said.
“He has been really impressive with his pre-season.
“I am looking forward to having another good year with him. He is a good kid, we love him here at the Broncos and I am looking forward to watching him play for the Indigenous team and we’ll welcome him back next week in a Broncos jersey.”
After his NRL debut in 2021, Cobbo emerged as a Broncos superstar last season, scoring 15 tries from 18 games and rocketing into the Queensland Origin team with his speed, flair and tryscoring instincts.
But the 100kg flyer had a difficult finish to the 2022 season, copping a sickening concussion in the Origin decider before being given time off by Walters after suffering mental and physical burnout in the run to the finals.
Cobbo was ultimately rewarded with selection in Australia’s Prime Minister’s XIII team and Walters urged the rookie not to be complacent as he prepares to return for Brisbane’s final pre-season trial against the Cowboys next week.
Boom outside back Deine Mariner and experienced flanker Jordan Pereira are just two Broncos vying with Cobbo for a wing spot ahead of Brisbane’s premiership opener against Penrith on March 3.
“At this time in his career, I’ll keep Selwyn on the wing,” Walters said.
“There’s no saying these guys won’t shuffle around during the season, but the good thing is our outside backs are adaptable and can play several positions.
“There is good competition for spots. Young Denie Mariner is pushing through as well, he gets his chance this week (against the Titans) and he will get another opportunity next week against the Cowboys to push his claims.
“It was a learning year for Selwyn and I’m confident he will be bigger and stronger this season.”
REVEALED: COBBO’S BIG FINE FOR KEVVIE SLEDGE
A beefed up Selwyn Cobbo will be unveiled in Saturday’s All Stars exhibition as the Broncos flyer looks to put his Kevin Walters podcast gaffe behind him.
Cobbo has been fined $10,000 by the Broncos — to be donated to charity — after going rogue on a little-known podcast in New Zealand during the off-season.
In the explosive interview, Cobbo claimed Walters was a “good bloke” but not a good coach and the Broncos had concocted a story that he was suffering from fatigue last year to conceal a personal issue.
Cobbo’s comments went down like a lead balloon at Red Hill, with Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy sanctioning him for breaking media protocols.
Cobbo, 20, has kept a low profile since and been banned from conducting interviews as he looks to get his 2023 NRL premiership preparations on track following the saga.
The Queensland Origin weapon will make his first playing appearance of the year when he starts on the wing for the Indigenous team in his second All Stars fixture.
And a new-look Cobbo will take the field in Rotorua alongside Kangaroos superstar Latrell Mitchell following a stunning pre-season transformation.
Cobbo has bulked up from 97kg last year to 103kg and smashed his gym records.
His bench press has increased from 105kg to 170kg and he is squatting 200kg compared to 110kg last year. He is also recording faster running times in testing.
A renowned tackle breaker, Cobbo could be even harder to handle this season and his manager, Tas Bartlett, said the young gun had learned from his podcast mistakes.
“He’s got over it and just wants to get out and play footy now and repay the club and Kevvie,” he said.
“It was some immaturity on his behalf, but he’s put it to bed and owned it. He wants to get into the season.
“He wants his best and worst games to be closer together. That comes with maturity and experience. You only get that by playing multiple seasons.
“He wasn’t really a first grader at the start of last year and by the end of it he had played Origin and for the Prime Minister’s XIII. He had a big year that no-one was really expecting.
“He has to back that up again in a more consistent manner and be in games more every week.”
After playing seven NRL games in his debut season in 2021, Cobbo burst out of the blocks last year with a stunning start to 2022.
He scored 12 tries in eight matches during a mid-year purple patch to earn a Maroons Origin debut, starting in all three games before suffering a heavy concussion in the opening minutes of the famous decider.
Cobbo spent a month on the sidelines following the head knock and missed more footy later in the season as he struggled to rediscover his early-season form.
But he has set his sights on producing a more consistent season for the Broncos in 2023 and the early signs are positive.
“He’s getting a little bit more mature and it’s his second pre-season,” Bartlett said.
“He’s always had a bit of a blank canvas about him. He came down from Cherbourg into the under-20s system which was riddled with Covid and all the gains he made he lost.
“He came into Kevvie’s side in 2021 with no pre-season under his belt. The second pre-season was always going to be the making of him.
“He’s still got more upside. When he gets into his third and fourth pre-season we’ll start to see a finished product. He will look like a pretty scary specimen bringing the ball back this year.
“The next step for any NRL player is to get consistency in their game.
“He came out of the blocks in the first three months last year and was going unbelievable. Midway through the year he was probably looking for the finish line and needed a break.
“He’s come back into another pre-season so hopefully his body can go longer into this season.”
Cobbo has relished spending time alongside Mitchell for the first time in All Stars camp.
He has earned comparisons to the Rabbitohs superstar and has a desire to emulate Mitchell and play fullback in the long-term, setting up a potential showdown with new Broncos No. 1 Reece Walsh.
“Long-term that’s where he wants to play,” Bartlett said.
“Right now, he’s happy to be in the team and on the wing. He’s happy to bide his time, but once he’s had a couple of more pre-seasons he’d like to have a crack at fullback.
“The All Stars coach (Ron Griffiths) has indicated he might get a bit of a run at fullback which would be interesting to see.
“He did well last year there when Kevvie put him at the back following an injury. You could see what he could bring once he becomes a permanent fullback in the next few years.
“He’ll get there at some stage, it will just be about when’s the right time.”
Originally published as NRL 2023: Selwyn Cobbo fined $15k for podcast comments about coach Kevin Walters
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