NRL 2024: Maroons selector Darren Lockyer opens up on surprise Selwyn Cobbo omission

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer has revealed Selwyn Cobbo confessed to Maroons coach Billy Slater that he was not in the right frame of mind to play in Origin II.

Selwyn Cobbo has been battling an injury that has required painkilling injections. Picture: Getty Images

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer has lifted the lid on Selwyn Cobbo’s shock Maroons omission, revealing the Broncos ace confessed to coach Billy Slater he was not in the right frame of mind to play in Origin II.

Lockyer’s revelation came as the ‘King’ of State of Origin, Queensland legend Wally Lewis, applauded Cobbo for the candid critique that will see him miss Game Two at the MCG next Wednesday night.

After his barnstorming bench performance in Origin I, Cobbo seemed a selection certainty for the return bout before his bombshell omission following a heart-to-heart with Maroons coach Slater.

Despite Cobbo’s outstanding display in the series opener, Slater later revealed the 22-year-old has been privately battling an injury that has required painkilling injections.

But the physical battle has also had mental ramifications for the Broncos sensation, with Maroons selector Lockyer outlining how Cobbo doubted his ability to perform in Origin II amid concerns of NRL burnout.

Selwyn Cobbo has been battling an injury that has required painkilling injections. Picture: Getty Images

“The decision in the end was pretty easy for Bill,” said former Queensland skipper and Channel 9 expert analyst Lockyer.

“I congratulate Selwyn for being open and honest about it.

“He is carrying a few niggles at the moment and it’s affecting him mentally.

“He was pretty open and honest with Bill about whether he was capable of performing in that arena.

“There is nowhere to hide in Origin.

“I think he is young, and I think his time (in the Origin arena), it’s not like it’s over.

“He will be back in the Maroons jersey at some point, but now is not the right time to push him physically and mentally given that we are one-up in the series.

“That’s a luxury Bill has got.

“It’s a big decision (to omit Cobbo for Origin II) but at the same time it’s the right one.”

After starring for the Maroons in Origin I, Cobbo struggled for the Broncos with two poor performances. Picture: Getty Images

In the aftermath of his Origin heroics, Cobbo delivered two sobering performances for the Broncos.

He leaked a try in Brisbane’s round 14 loss to Cronulla, sidestepped by winger Sione Katoa from a scrum win. And while he was courageous with 217 metres in last Friday night’s defeat by Souths, his four handling errors was an uncharacteristic sign that Cobbo was not operating at optimum capacity.

Former Maroons skipper Lewis said Cobbo, who allegedly required a needle to play in Origin I, risked letting Queensland down if he tried to conceal his physical and mental issues.

Lockyer reveals Cobbo feared letting Queensland down if he tried to conceal his physical and mental issues. Picture: NRL Photos

“Players sometimes tell a fib to their teammates as well as the doctor to get themselves through a game like that,” Lewis told Channel 9’s Origin podcast.

“It really could be an expensive (decision) and you have to question if they will be considered for the next match should they not be at their best.

“It’s a pretty tough call, but honesty is the best policy for an Origin match.

“Plenty of players get needled up and think, ‘You beauty, I can get onto the field’, but you always have in the back of your mind that bit of doubt … ‘Am I OK, should I have done it?’

“If you pull out, you are doing the best thing for yourself, your teammates and your state.”

36-game Maroons legend Lockyer said Cobbo, who has been replaced by Kurt Capewell for Origin II, will learn valuable lessons about how far he can push himself as his career develops.

“A lot of it comes down to experience, too,” he said.

“If you have played at Origin level 10 years, you know what your limits are.

“Selwyn is still only at the start of his career, he obviously thought the niggles he has at the moment, he can’t get on top of them and that’s going to affect his performance.

“We’ve got an advantage where we are 1-0 up in the series, Billy is not desperate to pick players who are injured.

“He had the ability to be flexible and he has done that.”