NRL 2024: Selwyn Cobbo to test open market as Brisbane Broncos play waiting game for contract extension

Unless Brisbane can strike a contract extension within the month, backline strike weapon Selwyn Cobbo will be up for sale and open to fielding formal offers from NRL rivals for 2026 and beyond.

Brisbane Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo is set to test the open market. Picture: Adam Head

The Broncos are facing a multimillion-dollar battle to keep Selwyn Cobbo with the Queensland Origin star set to head to free agency.

This masthead can reveal the Broncos have yet to table a new offer to Cobbo – just six weeks out from the Cherbourg sensation officially becoming a free agent on the open market from November 1.

Cobbo’s preference is to stay at the Broncos, but unless Brisbane can strike an extension within the month, the backline strike weapon will be up for sale and open to fielding formal offers from NRL rivals.

The Broncos last year extended Payne Haas before November 1 after his management initially flagged plans to head to free agency and Brisbane bosses remain confident they will retain Cobbo.

But with the Broncos still in the process of trying to upgrade superstar fullback Reece Walsh to a new deal, they could face a salary-cap crunch attempting to secure Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs.

The centre duo are both off-contract next year and the Broncos appear content to play the waiting game, even if it opens the door for NRL rivals to make a formal play for Cobbo.

Cobbo has been previously linked with the Roosters and former Broncos skipper Corey Parker believes the Maroons ace can secure the biggest contract of his career on the open market.

“If Selwyn goes to the open market, he can get around $1 million a season. That’s the reality,” Parker said.

“If the Broncos haven’t made Cobbo an offer yet, I find that mind-blowing.

“Clubs tend to forecast their salary caps years in advance and I’m sure the Broncos have been preparing for this. They knew this period was coming with Staggs and Selwyn (set to become free agents).

“The issue for me is how do the Broncos afford to keep Cobbo and Staggs? The Broncos already have guys like Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh and Payne Haas on big-money deals.

“Often clubs pay on potential … and Selwyn’s potential is untapped.”

Staggs is on an estimated $700,000 this season, while Cobbo is on around $625,000, with his salary set to rise again next year.

Earlier this year, there was a view that Cobbo should be the priority signing over Staggs, but by season’s end, the roles may have been reversed.

Cobbo shocked the Queensland Origin team by withdrawing on the eve of Game Two for personal reasons and he had a patchy 2024 campaign for Brisbane, scoring six tries from 19 games.

Staggs, meanwhile, was outstanding at the back-end of the season, keeping Brisbane in the finals hunt with two-try heroics against the Cowboys and showing genuine leadership amid the club’s slide to 12th.

By virtue of his versatility, Cobbo, who can play centre, wing or fullback, could command more than Staggs on the open market, but a move away from the Broncos could be problematic.

The 22-year-old has been well supported off the field by the Broncos, who have given Cobbo time off to visit his family and friends in Cherbourg.

Parker says a move away from Queensland, potentially to a Sydney club, could test Cobbo emotionally.

“Selwyn needs to be at a club that can nurture him and comfort him,” he said.

“I don’t know Selwyn well, but I think he needs some stability in his football and life.

“Selwyn is a bit of a different personality, but if he went on the market, there would be a stack of clubs throwing good money at him.

“Have the Broncos put too much money elsewhere (into their roster)?

Cobbo had a tough year off the field. Picture: NRL Photos

“If you are the Broncos, you don’t want to lose Selwyn, he is a star. Yes he needs management and coaching, but he’s a superstar in the making and Kotoni is a very good centre.

“Kotoni was signed on five-eighth money when his last deal was done, so it’s a difficult one for the Broncos.

“I don’t know if you can have two centres on $700,000-plus, but is Selwyn’s best position somewhere else, potentially fullback?

“I still don’t know how the Broncos manage to keep both Selwyn and Staggs under the salary cap.

“I don’t know which one they prioritise, it’s a real conundrum for the Broncos.”

In April, Cobbo’s management said the Broncos flyer’s choice of position could determine where he ends up.

“I personally think Selwyn should be a Bronco for life,” said Tasman Bartlett of PSM.

“I don’t think Selwyn’s value changes going to the open market.

“I don’t think Brisbane would find more money for him just because we say we’re going to free agency on November 1.

“I know if we go to the open market, he will attract $1 million offers and possibly more.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Selwyn Cobbo to test open market as Brisbane Broncos play waiting game for contract extension