Broncos coach Michael Maguire addresses media over Selwyn Cobbo axing

Selwyn Cobbo needs to ‘get himself right’ before he can return to the NRL according to Brisbane coach Michael Maguire as one club old boy fumed over the decision to axe the fan favourite.

Brisbane legend Justin Hodges has blasted Michael Maguire’s decision to axe Selwyn Cobbo as the Broncos coach backed the off-contract star to save his career at Red Hill.

Maguire confirmed this masthead’s report, with Cobbo dropped on his 23rd birthday in favour of unheralded Josiah Karapani for Saturday night’s derby against the Titans at Suncorp Stadium.

Rookie Karapani, 23, trained on the wing at Brisbane’s captain’s run on Friday, while Cobbo has been relegated to reserve grade and will play fullback for Wynnum Manly against Townsville on Sunday.

Karapani, who played 10 games for the Broncos last season, has been outstanding for feeder club Burleigh, running for 406 metres in his past two games with 12 tackle busts.

Selwyn Cobbo was shocked at his axing. Picture: NRL Photos

Cobbo was blindsided by his demotion and with the matchwinning fan favourite still without a deal for next season, there are fears Maguire’s decision could force the Cherbourg flyer out of the Broncos.

Maguire explained the bombshell selection call in the lead-up to the Titans clash, intimating Cobbo is not meeting team standards.

“As a group and as a leadership group and as a coach, we’re pushing standards here and expectations in how we’re doing things,” Maguire said.

“Karapani’s got his opportunity and ‘Selly’s’ got to look at a few things in his game and we’ll go from there.

“Selly and I talk all the time about what we need to do, so I’ll keep that (conversation) between us.

“There’s obviously things that every player goes through at times and this is no different.

“Selly’s in the background doing his work to make sure he gets himself right.”

Former Broncos skipper Hodges was stunned by Cobbo’s axing (see the video above).

Brisbane Broncos head coach Michael Maguire. Picture: Tara Croser.

“I think to drop someone like Selwyn. At the end of the day, he’s playing on the wing,” Hodges told Fox League.

“If you’re dropping a winger, it doesn’t really make sense.

“I think he’s been OK in a side that hasn’t really performed.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t really sit well with me to drop someone like that.

“I think probably there’s other blokes that probably need to get dropped first.”

Cobbo started the season with a bang - he scored a hat-trick in a 50-14 round 1 rout of the Roosters - and his numbers have been impressive, averaging 151 metres per game and amassing 52 tackle busts.

But after injuring his wrist three weeks ago filling in for Reece Walsh at fullback, Cobbo has appeared to be playing under duress, even though he managed 21 runs in last week’s loss to Manly.

The Broncos have yet to make Cobbo an offer as the club deals with a salary cap crunch due to 14 players coming off-contract and captain Adam Reynolds’ decision to play on in 2026.

Cobbo is chasing a bumper payday and there is no certainty the Broncos will be able to retain him along with highly-paid centre Kotoni Staggs, who has agreed to a three-year extension.

Maguire remains confident Cobbo can fight his way back and be at the Broncos in 2026.

“Definitely,” he said.

“I don’t look at it from that point of view (Cobbo quitting the Broncos).

“I’m here to coach the team. We’re creating standards and the team themselves, from the day when I walked in to where they are now, are still pushing those, which is exciting as a coach.

“The more you meet those standards, the more opportunities you have.”

Stung by six losses from their last seven starts, Brisbane are desperate to get a win in Reynolds’ 300th NRL game and Maguire is relishing the return of superstar fullback Reece Walsh from a knee injury.

“Reece is ready to go,” he said.

“We felt another week was required and he’s trained really well this week. I’m looking forward to bringing his energy back in. He’s a good player. I love coaching him, he’ll do his job for the team.”