NRL: The rugby league feuds of 2023, Cobbo v Luai, Souths v Roosters set to ignite
Rabbitohs and Roosters players went berserk in last year’s finals with a seven sin bin bloodbath – and a new chapter is set to be written in their Book of Feuds this season.
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Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo has labelled his State of Origin rival Jarome Luai a “grub” in an explosive prelude to Brisbane’s season-opening blockbuster against Penrith.
But Luai has hit back at Cobbo, challenging the Queensland and Brisbane winger by declaring “let’s get it on” as the Panthers begin another title defence on Friday night against the Broncos at Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium.
The new NRL season will witness a multitude of feuds and powder keg moments and Cobbo’s showdown with Penrith premiership villain Luai is sure to ignite fireworks in round 1.
Cobbo’s infamous podcast, in which he claimed Broncos mentor Kevin Walters was not a good coach, has again reared its head, with the Queensland Origin flyer also sensationally unloading on Luai.
In the one-hour interview, Cobbo also takes aim at Luai, slamming the Panthers and NSW playmaking for his role in the Broncos rookie’s severe concussion in last year’s Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
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Cobbo was knocked out in the second minute of Origin III after colliding with the hip of Maroons teammate Pat Carrigan. As Cobbo lay on the turf motionless, Luai stood over the senseless winger and roared at him as furious Maroons prop Josh Papalii rushed in to attack the Blues pivot.
The incident still lives on in the memory of Cobbo, who will be hellbent on revenge when he runs at Luai as Brisbane plot a boilover of premiers the Penrith in their season opener at BlueBet.
“I don’t know why he did that. He’s just a grub,” Cobbo said of Luai on the Back Of The 135 podcast.
“It was pretty disappointing. It was in Brissie so all my family was there, too.
“Two minutes in, I get knocked out. I was pretty upset in the sheds when the doctor said I couldn’t go back on.
“Luai is a grub.”
Contacted by News Corp about Cobbo’s comments, Luai said he wouldn’t back down if the 104kg Broncos sensation tried to target him in Penrith’s first vital step towards a hat-trick of premierships this season.
“He (Cobbo) said a few things on that podcast, but I didn’t know he said that about me,” Luai said.
“It’s pretty cool and hopefully he was joking, but in a way, this is what the game is all about.
“It’s about building rivalries and stuff like that.
“If he thinks that then let’s get it on in Round 1.”
Largely by virtue of their brilliance, the Panthers have attracted an army of critics and the two-time premiers will be at the epicentre of some spicy NRL narratives this season.
But others, such as Ricky Stuart, Kalyn Ponga, Anthony Seibold and, of course, super coach Wayne Bennett, will be in the thick of the NRL soap opera.
SOUTHS v ROOSTERS
WHAT’S an NRL season without another chapter in the Book of Feuds?
Perhaps the best chapter of all came last season when Rabbitohs and Roosters players went berserk in the finals. After seven sin bins, Souths prevailed 30-14 and Roosters coach Trent Robinson had a hissy fit at the post-match press conference.
What next? Matt Lodge decking Cameron Murray? Latrell Mitchell taking out Joey Manu? Only in the NRL.
STUART v SALMON
ALL eyes, and ears, will be on GIO Stadium on Friday, March 31 when the Panthers travel to Canberra to face Ricky Stuart’s Raiders.
Lest we forget last year’s extraordinary spray from Ricky, who labelled Penrith utility Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog” at the post-match press conference. Salmon finished the season with a premiership ring and while Stuart apologised, the Panthers will take any motivation they can get this season.
KEVVIE v WAYNE
THE River City Rumble has already started to froth and bubble. It ramped up a notch this week, when Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett landed his first major scalp by poaching Herbie Farnworth from the Broncos.
Then there’s Bennett versus Walters. There’s always been fascinating strands in the relationship between Bennett and Walters, who was sacked by the master coach as his assistant at the Broncos in 2005. Almost two decades on, they square off for the first time as head coaches in round four. With Walters under pressure to deliver a finals berth this season, Bennett will be revelling as the Dolphins’ seasoned puppeteer, needling the Broncos club that sensationally sacked him in 2018.
SEIBOLD v BRONCOS
GET the popcorn out.
Someone at the NRL has a mischievous streak for its only apt that the Magic Round draw should ask new Manly coach Anthony Seibold to return to Queensland to face the Broncos … at Suncorp Stadium.
The Seibold era at Red Hill was a debacle. He delivered the glamour club’s first ever wooden spoon, leaving Brisbane with his reputation and pride in tatters. Now he gets a shot at redemption at Brookvale. Kevin Walters, who lost out to Seibold for the Broncos job, would love to get some bragging rights in round 10. Five weeks later, Seibold and Bennett’s Dolphins will square off.
PANTHERS v RABBITOHS
THE fireworks will fly early when the 2021 NRL grand finalists square off in round two at Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium.
Cody Walker will be fired-up to deliver, no doubt fuelled by his drama-charged altercation last season when he sprayed Penrith’s physio pest Pete Green over alleged comments directed at Jed Cartwright.
Panthers legend John Cartwright slammed Green as a “coward” and called for a life ban. Let’s hope Green tucks his ego into his physio bag alongside the Dencorub and allows the real stars to shine.
SHEENS v MADGE
TIM Sheens assured Michael Maguire he was safe at Wests Tigers. Months later, ‘Madge’ was axed - and Tigers football boss Sheens took his job. Now an assistant to Stuart at Canberra, Maguire would love to jam it up Sheens’ Tigers on June 2 in round 14 at Campbelltown.
ORIGIN STARS v BENNETT
MAROONS duo Kalyn Ponga and Cameron Munster will get the chance to stick it up Bennett after the super coach sprayed the duo for rejecting the Dolphins.
Bennett accused Munster of being gutless for not informing him he was staying with the Storm. The 73-year-old also took aim at Ponga, claiming he was coasting at the Knights and needed to challenge himself at the Dolphins.
Ponga faces Bennett’s Dolphins in round 3, while Munster’s Storm travels to Suncorp to play the new franchise in round 12.
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