Selwyn Cobbo contract: Brisbane Broncos in talks to extend young star on $1 million package

Teen sensation Selwyn Cobbo is seen as the future of the Broncos and the club has taken a major step towards ensuring he isn’t lost to a rival club like David Fifita was. PETER BADEL reports.

Brisbane have launched extension talks with Selwyn Cobbo in a $1 million-plus retention strike designed to stave off big-money poaching bids for the backline ace rated Brisbane’s version of Latrell Mitchell.

News Corp can reveal the Broncos have outlined plans to retain Cobbo until the end of 2026 as the Indigenous young gun prepares to make his debut at fullback in Brisbane’s final trial against the Cowboys on Saturday night.

In the space of 12 months, Cobbo has gone from a $60,000 unknown at feeder-club Wynnum Manly to one of the NRL’s next backline superstars set to celebrate a $1 million-plus upgrade at the Broncos.

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Selwyn Cobbo with the Indigenous All Stars team. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Broncos powerbrokers kicked off negotiations on Wednesday with Cobbo’s manager Tas Bartlett of PSM and are open to a two or three-year extension for the 19-year-old whizkid.

Cobbo is already contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2023, but the threat of several expressions of interest from NRL suitors, including expansion rivals the Dolphins, has prompted Brisbane chiefs to act quickly.

Cobbo is on around $170,000 this season but with rival clubs indicating they are prepared to pay in excess of $600,000 annually, a three-year Broncos upgrade would be well north of the $1 million mark.

The good news for the Broncos is they have an eight-month negotiating headstart before rival clubs can table formal offers on November 1 - and Cobbo’s preference is to stay loyal.

The classy winger, fullback or centre tallied seven NRL games last season after making his debut against the Dragons in round 13 and says he has no reason to walk out on the Broncos if he is settled at the club.

“I grew up supporting the Broncos. I watched them every time they played and I always hoped I could play for them,” Cobbo said.

“I don’t really care about contracts at other clubs.

“I’m really worried about where I am now and I’m happy at the Broncos.

Cobbo playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Mal Meninga Cup.

“Sometimes, passion is more important and I’m passionate about the Broncos and my football here.

“If everything is going well, I wouldn’t mind staying where I am.”

Brisbane board member Darren Lockyer, also a key part of the club’s recruitment-and-retention committee, says the Broncos want to take Cobbo off the market before a bidding war can break out.

If negotiations progress smoothly, the parties are hoping Cobbo will ink his new Broncos deal within the month.

“It’s already been mentioned a few times his comparisons to Greg Inglis and Latrell, Selwyn certainly moves like that,” Lockyer said.

“He was school captain before he joined the Broncos, so that shows Selwyn has a good attitude and when you factor in his athleticism and his football awareness, we’re keen to keep him.”

Cobbo made his Indigenous All Stars debut a fortnight ago and his meteoric rise will continue in Mackay on Saturday night when he trades fullback blows with Cowboys’ Queensland Origin star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Selwyn Cobbo will play fullback in this weekend’s trial. Picture: Liam Kidston

Cobbo was expected to start on the left wing for Brisbane’s season opener against Souths on March 11, but a hamstring injury to first-choice fullback Tesi Niu has blown the battle for the No.1 jumper wide open.

While Cobbo is still raw with his backfield positioning and communication, he has the physical tools at 190cm and 100kg to fire in the No.1 jumper and has been studying the game of Manly’s Dally M champion Tom Trbojevic.

“I love watching Tom Turbo. He is just a freak the way he moves,” Cobbo said.

“I like centre, but I can also play fullback. If I play either of those positions down the track, I will be happy.

“It’s happened pretty quickly for me. The Broncos told me I would probably be making my NRL debut this year, so for it to happen last year, it was incredible.

“At the start, it was pretty tough, the NRL is very fast and physical, but the more games I played last year, the more comfortable I felt.”

Originally published as Selwyn Cobbo contract: Brisbane Broncos in talks to extend young star on $1 million package