Selwyn Cobbo enters NRL free agent market after Brisbane Broncos fail to table fresh offer

The Brisbane Broncos risk losing star centre Selwyn Cobbo after they failed to lock him down ahead of the 1 November trade window opening. SEE THE STATUS OF EVERY BRONCO

Queensland Origin star Selwyn Cobbo will test his value on the open market as $4 million worth of Broncos talent fight for their futures under new coach Michael Maguire.

This masthead can reveal Cobbo is up for sale, with the Broncos failing to strike a deal with the Maroons flyer before the NRL’s November 1 free-agency period which kicked off on Friday.

But new Broncos coach Maguire insists he is not forcing Cobbo out of Red Hill and is hopeful Brisbane have the salary-cap space to retain the Origin ace and his centre partner Kotoni Staggs.

Both Cobbo and Staggs are off-contract next season and there is a view the Broncos cannot afford around $1.5 million under the salary cap to keep the pair at Red Hill for 2026 and beyond.

Brisbane have 12 players who are now officially free agents and the raft of talent is headlined by Cobbo, who is in limbo at his beloved Broncos.

Selwyn Cobbo is set to test his value on the open market. Picture: NRL Photos

Cobbo’s manager Tas Bartlett has been in dialogue with Broncos recruitment chiefs for several months but is still waiting on a formal offer as Brisbane attempt to stabilise following the sacking of coach Kevin Walters.

The 22-year-old will have no shortage of interest – he has been repeatedly linked with the Sydney Roosters – but Bartlett says Cobbo’s preference is to stay at the Broncos.

“Selwyn is a free agent as it stands now,” said Bartlett of PSM.

“However we are still working on getting a deal at the Broncos.

“The open market doesn’t drive his price up. I know his value and the clubs know his value

“The Broncos have had a change of coach so ‘Madge’ (Maguire) wants to get to know Selwyn and that’s understandable.

“I’ve always believed Selwyn should be a Bronco for life and I know how much he loves the club, so hopefully we can get something done.

“If we can’t, we will look at all options, but the priority is for Selwyn to stay at the Broncos.

“He doesn’t want to leave.”

A fortnight ago, Cobbo was buffeted by speculation that he was off to the Cowboys, but North Queensland coach Todd Payten confirmed the club will not be making a play for the matchwinning utility back.

Given his ties to family in hometown Cherbourg, Cobbo is reluctant to leave Queensland.

Regarded as one of the code’s hottest prospects 12 months ago after starring in Brisbane’s charge to the 2023 grand final, Cobbo’s stocks took a hit this year after a turbulent campaign, headlined by his shock withdrawal from Origin II for personal reasons.

Brisbane’s pre-season officially begins on Monday and Maguire said he will be monitoring the form of all players, challenging Cobbo to produce his best.

“I have a great opinion of Selwyn,” Maguire said.

“I’d like to keep him here.

“I’ve watched his talent and there’s no doubt at his best he is a representative player. In the right headspace, he can go a long way in this game.

“But the key is working hard and if he does that, I have no doubt he will have a big future at the Broncos.”

The Broncos have approximately $4m worth of talent coming off-contract at the end of 2025, giving Maguire flexibility to make significant changes to his roster.

Captain Adam Reynolds is expected to retire at the end of next season while forwards Fletcher Baker, Jaiyden Hunt and Jack Gosiewski are playing for their futures following disappointing 2024 campaigns.

Hookers Tyson Smoothy and Cory Paix are on the outer after slipping down the pecking order of dummy-half options.

Reliable prop Corey Jensen should secure an extension given his consistent performances, leadership qualities and low maintenance attitude since joining Brisbane in 2022.

The big retention decisions are shaping around Cobbo, Staggs, Blake Mozer and Kobe Hetherington.

The Broncos must decide what they believe Cobbo and Staggs are worth to the club given how difficult it is to fit two highly-paid centres into a well-balanced roster.

The Broncos may struggle to fit both (L-R) Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo under the cap. Picture: Liam Kidston

After some controversies in the early parts of his career, Staggs has blossomed into a leader at Red Hill and was one of Brisbane’s best players in 2024.

Mozer has been touted as Brisbane’s long-term No. 9 and the time has arrived for him to see consistent NRL action.

But with that will come a serious salary increase, with rival clubs sniffing around the Queensland under-19s Origin representative.

Emerging prop Xavier Willison, 22, inked a two-year extension on Friday to remain at Brisbane until the end of 2027, leaving less money in the cap to retain Cobbo.

While being inconsistent at times, Willison has shown promising signs and his best football is ahead of him. Props of his size that move dynamically are also hard to come by.

Hetherington is a reliable player in the middle but has grown restless being stuck behind Kangaroos star Pat Carrigan in the battle for the No.13 jumper.

Hetherington’s preference is to remain at Red Hill, but the lure of a starting jersey elsewhere could tempt him to quit the Broncos, with the Wests Tigers and Dragons ready to pounce.