NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters reveals Herbie Farnworth’s centre replacement

Deine Mariner had been earmarked as a ready-made replacement for Dolphins defector Herbie Farnworth. Instead, coach Kevin Walters opted to give Selwyn Cobbo first crack at left centre.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has thrown a selection curveball after anointing Maroons and Kangaroos star Selwyn Cobbo to replace Dolphins defector Herbie Farnworth.

Cobbo will shift from the right wing to left centre to replace Farnworth next season, continuing the career progression of NRL superstars Greg Inglis, Latrell Mitchell and Israel Folau.

Inglis, Mitchell and Folau all made their NRL debuts on the wing before moving in-field to centre and fullback roles as they became more comfortable in first grade.

Now Cobbo is set to follow a similar path after playing the majority of his first three NRL seasons on the wing, netting 37 tries in 49 games.

Farnworth is one of four Broncos players from last year’s losing grand final team to have left the club, joining representative prop Tom Flegler at cross-town rivals the Dolphins. Kurt Capewell (Warriors) and Keenan Palasia (Titans) have also moved on.

Cobbo trains inside Corey Oates. Picture: Josh Woning

Selwyn Cobbo. Picture: Josh Woning

Rising star Deine Mariner was tipped to replace Farnworth, but Walters will turn to Cobbo for the centre position, leaving Mariner and Corey Oates jostling for a spot on the wing.

“That’s the plan – to move him into that role,” Walters said of Cobbo.

“He’s probably a bit more natural there in the centres than on the wing.

“So far he has been really good there. I guess we’ll find out more when we start playing and he has to start making tackles and all those things the great centres do.”

Cobbo, 21, can play anywhere in the back five and has aspirations to wear the No. 1 jersey permanently.

However that isn’t going to happen any time soon at Red Hill following the rise of Reece Walsh last year, prompting Walters to make a crucial backline switch.

Now a Queensland Origin and Kangaroos representative, Walters said Cobbo was ready to take on more responsibility in the team, particularly in the defensively-demanding centre position.

“He is still only young and maturing in that space with his fitness levels and strength. They will get better as the year goes on,” Walters said.

“His footy IQ is very good. He’s a very intelligent player, which you need to be in centre, particularly defensively which is where I think he’ll be a good asset for us with the way he reads the attack.

“We’ve got some good options there. Part of this time of the year is to have players in training situations to see how they handle that.

“Deine is obviously a good young player, it’s just a matter of finding the right position for him.”

The Cobbo shift has opened up competition on the wings, with Oates, Mariner and Jesse Arthars vying for two roles.

Arthars is the front-runner of the trio and should start in round 1, while Oates could resurrect his career following an injury-plagued 2023 in which he only managed nine NRL appearances and didn’t score a try.

Deine Mariner was tipped to earn a starting spot in the centres. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Broncos returned to pre-season training late last week and completed a high-intensity session in wet conditions on Monday.

Given they featured in the last game of the 2023 season, losing the grand final to Penrith, it will be a condensed preparation for 2024 and Walters is attempting to make the most of their time before heading to Las Vegas for the round 1 opener against the Roosters on March 3.

“We’ve got a shortened pre-season so we’ve got to ramp it up as best as we can,” he said.

“The squad is in great shape and we’re looking forward to another good season.

“The next six weeks is about us reconnecting as a group, particularly those guys coming in in those new positions to be formidable and comfortable in their roles. They also need to contribute in a way to help our team move forward.

“We’re a bit restricted with what we can do and how we can do things. Without overkill, it’s about getting the most out of our sessions.”