Broncos’ $5 million Reece Walsh mistake laid bare as Selwyn Cobbo shines in NRL win

The Broncos put on a clinic against the Bulldogs but in doing so an incredibly costly blunder has become clear as day.

The Broncos looked the best they have all year as they handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the NRL season. But in doing so their costly $6 million blunder was laid bare.

Brisbane fired on all cylinders on Thursday night in a 42-18 win over Canterbury, with captain Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Selwyn Cobbo all looking near unstoppable for the hosts.

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In 2025 Brisbane’s attack has looked disjointed and many pointed to Ben Hunt and Reynolds as the problem.

However, in the absence of superstar fullback Reece Walsh, they looked silky smooth and all on the same page and a large part of that seemed to come down to Cobbo at the back.

Last week Walsh battled through a knee issue in Brisbane’s golden point defeat to the Warriors, before news emerged he will miss the next four to six weeks with a PCL injury.

Cobbo was therefore shifted into the No. 1 jumper ahead of their clash with the Dogs, and in just one game the 22-year-old showed he could quickly develop into one of the best fullbacks in the game.

“Wow. He’s just so good to watch Selwyn Cobbo,” Warren Smith said in Fox Sports commentary.

Michael Ennis added: “He’s been impressive tonight Selwyn Cobbo stepping in for Reece Walsh. He’s been busy and has shown some great skill.

“His physicality, the way he’s returned the ball this year has been great, but tonight at fullback it’s really unlocked him.”

NRL fans also were quick to applaud Cobbo, with many forming the belief fullback is his best position.

“Selwyn Cobbo needs to play fullback,” one fan wrote on X.

“Cobbo is a better fullback (than Walsh) in my view no errors and his kick returns are amazing,” another wrote.

“I’d take Cobbo over Walsh any day of the week,” a third said.

The Broncos were brilliant without fullback Reece Walsh. Image: Getty

But the reality the Broncos must now face is they may have got it terribly wrong ahead of the 2025 season, by re-signing Walsh likely at the expense of Cobbo.

At the end of last year, the Broncos rewarded Walsh with a staggering $5 million extension.

They also signed Ben Hunt to a $550,000-a-year deal.

But in doing so it means Cobbo will likely be on the way out of Red Hill at the end of the season.

That’s because Brisbane’s salary cap had very little wiggle room last year, with the club reportedly having just $150,000 left before the June 30 transfer cut-off. 

Selwyn Cobbo starred at fullback on Thursday night. Picture: NRL Photos

Even away from even the likes of Walsh, Hunt, Haas and Carrigan, Reynolds is also on $550,000 a year, Mam commands $750,000 a season, hooker Billy Walters collects $300,000 a year and even the likes of backup hooker Cory Paix ($300,000) and Kobe Hetherington ($400,000) don’t come cheap.

While Cobbo – who is off contract at the end of this year – is on around $650,000 a season and is expected to be able to command at least $200,000 more a year at another club.

But with more stellar showings at fullback, that number will likely be around the $1m mark, something the Broncos simply won’t be able to match.

Reece Walsh was handed a $5m extension ahead of the 2025 season but hasn’t lived up to that price tag so far. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Broncos’ sad Adam Reynolds reality

To make matters worse Broncos fans are also likely to lose Adam Reynolds, another standout performer against the Bulldogs, at the end of the season.     

The Broncos captain admitted earlier this month he will likely be a casualty of Brisbane’s salary cap squeeze come the end of the season and will have to look for another club.

Speaking about his future earlier this month, the 34-year-old playmaker declared he’s still “got a lot to give” and doesn’t intend to call time on his NRL career at the end of this year.

“The plan is to play on,’’ Reynolds told Triple M.

Adam Reynolds conceded he likely will have to leave Brisbane at the end of his contract (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“I will keep all options open at the moment. You never know what is around the corner.

“Ideally, I would love to stay at the Broncos but it is pretty tight there at the moment.

“If things work out, great. If not you would have to look and explore and see what else was out there.”

The Broncos had initially planned for life without Reynolds and were banking on his $550,000-a-year salary for next season.

And with Ben Hunt joining the club on a two-year-deal and with Ezra Mam set to come back into the fold, Reynolds is also a likely casualty come the end of the season.

Originally published as Broncos’ $5 million Reece Walsh mistake laid bare as Selwyn Cobbo shines in NRL win