NRL 2022: Poaching war to erupt over rising Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo

Plenty of clubs will throw plenty of cash at Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo, but head of football Ben Ikin reckon he has an ace up his sleeve.

Brisbane's Selwyn Cobbo will attract a huge price when he goes on the open market. Picture: NRL Imagery

A poaching war has broken out over Selwyn Cobbo with seven clubs, including expansion rivals the Dolphins, expressing interest in the Broncos young gun ahead of Sunday’s clash against the Bulldogs.

News Corp can reveal Cobbo has become the hottest teenage property in the NRL after his management was inundated with contract inquiries following the Brisbane rookie’s sizzling display against the Rabbitohs last Friday night.

The Cherbourg product goes into the Canterbury clash at Sydney’s Accor Stadium with an army of NRL recruitment chiefs watching his every move, armed with offers in excess of $700,000 for Brisbane’s version of Latrell Mitchell.

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Cobbo is on around $180,000 this season but his price tag is set to soar and Brisbane bosses are mindful of being blown out of the water by the type of mega deal that saw David Fifita quit the Broncos to join the Titans last year.

The 19-year-old is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2023, meaning NRL rivals can table formal offers for Cobbo from November 1 this year.

But the Broncos are ready to strike. Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee opened negotiations with Cobbo a fortnight ago and hope to have the Indigenous flyer secured to a two-year extension, until the end of 2025, before he becomes a free agent.

Brisbane's Selwyn Cobbo will attract a huge price when he goes on the open market. Picture: NRL Imagery

Cobbo’s value will skyrocket if he outpoints Canterbury rival Josh Addo-Carr this Sunday and Broncos football boss Ben Ikin is determined not to lose one of Brisbane’s best backline talents in 20 years to a big-money offer.

“We know big deals will sit out there for our best young talent, but we’re in negotiations with Selwyn at the moment and doing everything we can to keep him at the club,” Ikin said.

“We understand there will always be clubs in the recruitment cycle that are going to throw big money at your current and emerging stars.

“We’re not naive enough to think there aren’t competing forces out there.

“Some clubs will be really hungry for a guy as talented as Selwyn.

Selwyn Cobbo. Picture: NRL photos

“We saw the lengths the Titans went to to lure David Fifita away and that was a great lesson for the club.”

In just his eighth NRL game, Cobbo lit up Suncorp last week, charging for 162 metres, producing four tackle busts and impressing with his fearless charges out of his own end.

In the wake of that display, a raft of NRL rivals, including Sydney-based clubs, contacted Cobbo’s management to discuss his availability - and how much it would cost to prise him away from the Broncos.

There is a view Fifita walked out on the Broncos not only for the money, but because he lost trust in Brisbane’s footballing program.

Ikin wants Cobbo to have faith the Broncos can develop him into an Origin, Test and premiership-winning superstar.

“Selwyn isn’t on the open market until November 1, so we have time and it’s on us to create a footy club and a work environment that our guys will find very difficult to leave,” Ikin said.

“I don’t worry what other clubs could offer. You just can’t worry about it.

“We are in a process now with Selwyn and will give our all to that process, which is doing our best to keep Selwyn at the club.

Broncos football boss Ben Ikin hopes he can repel the poachers. Picture: John Gass

“We can’t control what other clubs do. We value Selwyn. We want Selwyn to stay. We want to build a footy program that Selwyn wants to be part of, which is a club that is contending every year, and that has to be our focus.”

Cobbo was tight-lipped about his future, saying his immediate focus is holding his own against Addo-Carr, the flying ‘Foxx’ who mentored him last month during Indigenous All Stars camp.

“I just love the Broncos,” Cobbo said.

“Growing up I loved watching the Broncos play and I like playing for them. We will see what happens (with his contract).

“I can’t wait to play Addo-Carr. Being in Indigenous camp, he was a big help for me, he really helped me through the week and told me to just back myself, play my way and be confident.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Poaching war to erupt over rising Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo