NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett rules out signing Selwyn Cobbo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard at Rabbitohs

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has ruled out signing Selwyn Cobbo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard after saying he doesn’t have the salary cap freedom. See the breakdown of Rabbitohs contracts and roster movement ahead of 2025.

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South Sydney super coach Wayne Bennett has ruled out signing Broncos backline ace Selwyn Cobbo and Eels enforcer Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

Cobbo is set to head to free agency on November 1, while Campbell-Gillard is a free agent after Parramatta confirmed the former NSW Origin prop will not be at the club next season.

Bennett has a high opinion of Cobbo and was previously linked with the Broncos whiz-kid when the super coach was putting together the Dolphins’ inaugural squad for their 2023 season.

South Sydney are proud of their Indigenous links and Cobbo would relish being mentored by stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, but Bennett says he won’t be launching a poaching bid.

“No, not really,” Bennett said when asked if he had interest in Cobbo.

“I think Selwyn is a wonderful player but we have quite a number of players in the backline on good money so it’s a bit hard to bring someone like Selwyn in.

South Sydney won’t make a play for Selwyn Cobbo or Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

“We have Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham, Latrell (Mitchell), Cody (Walker), Alex Johnson, Tyrone Munro and Isaiah Tass on our books already.

“Selwyn is a $600,000-$700,000 player.

“There’s no doubt he can play, but we can’t afford that.”

Bennett has a history of getting the best out of Indigenous players. Broncos Indigenous Hall of Fame legend Steve Renouf, who hails from the same Cherbourg-Murgon region as Cobbo, said there was no other coach he wanted to play for.

Bennett also turned former Indigenous playmaker Jamie Soward into a premiership winner and State of Origin player at the Dragons.

There is a view the Broncos are the best fit for Cobbo given his desire to be close to family in Cherbourg, but Bennett has no idea if the Brisbane flyer would handle a move to Sydney.

“I don’t know Selwyn,” he said. “I’ve never met him, so I don’t know if the Broncos are the right fit for him.

“It’s not my problem to worry about.”

Campbell-Gillard has been linked to the Rabbitohs after severing ties with the Eels for next season. The 31-year-old was expected to sign with the Dragons, but that move has fallen through after coach Shane Flanagan went cold on the transfer.

South Sydney desperately need some big men up front but Bennett says he won’t be making an offer for RCG.

“If I’m going to buy someone, I’m looking at the forwards, but he (Campbell-Gillard) isn’t an option,” he said.

“Again he’s on too much money.

“I have a team at Souths that is well established.

“In time I might have more freedom with the salary cap but I don’t have that freedom now.

“We won’t be signing him.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett rules out signing Selwyn Cobbo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard at Rabbitohs