NRL 2025: Selwyn Cobbo is in danger of being axed by the Brisbane Broncos amid claims his NRL professionalism isn’t up to standard

Ex-Maroons flyer Selwyn Cobbo will spend a third-straight week in reserve grade and is fighting for his future at the Broncos as Michael Maguire names a relatively unchanged line-up for a crucial clash against the Sharks.

Former Maroons star Selwyn Cobbo’s Broncos career is at a crossroads amid suggestions his professionalism isn’t up to NRL standards as he faces a third-straight week in reserve grade.

Cobbo has failed to earn an NRL recall for Brisbane’s crucial clash with Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has named an unchanged starting 13 for the Sharks game on the back of a bye after Brisbane’s last-start 44-14 thumping of the Titans.

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Playmaker Ben Hunt (hamstring) is yet to be cleared to return while Origin trio Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan and Ezra Mam will be assessed after Wednesday night’s game in Perth.

Maguire dropped a bombshell a fortnight ago when he dropped the off-contract Cobbo to the Hostplus Cup.

Since then, Cobbo has made two appearances for Wynnum-Manly, with limited preparation, and hasn’t set the world on fire at fullback and centre.

Selwyn Cobbo trained with Brisbane’s reserves on Tuesday. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The six-game Queensland representative’s commitment to the professionalism required to thrive in the NRL has been questioned.

Given he is off-contract and yet to receive an extension offer from the Broncos, there are doubts about Cobbo’s future at the club.

His management met with the club last week and has been garnering interest from rival NRL clubs as Cobbo faces the prospect of being squeezed out of the Broncos, whose salary cap for 2026 and beyond is tight.

Cobbo’s unheralded wing replacement Josiah Karapani ran for 144m and scored a double against the Titans, retaining his place for the Sharks showdown.

Cobbo is expected to play for Wynnum-Manly on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and faces an extended stint in the reserves if the Broncos keep firing without him.

Fellow Broncos winger Jesse Arthars said Cobbo had copped his demotion on the chin and was helping his teammates keep their season alive by training with Brisbane’s reserves in opposed sessions.

Cobbo is struggling to get back into the NRL. Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“Everyone knows Selly is pretty quiet,” he said.

“He’s always helping us. He loves playing footy. He is training and has a smile on his face.

“We’re happy to have him here. I love being with Selly.

“He’s enjoying his footy. He’s played a couple of games at Wynnum and doing what he can to get back in the team.

“Footy is full of surprises. You don’t really want to see anyone getting dropped but that’s just footy, that’s how it works.

“Selly is full of energy and always happy to be around. He’s always performing at training. You guys wouldn’t see it but he’s always doing things away from the field as well.

“That’s the best thing about this club – all the boys are always working hard for each other.

“We are pretty tight and everyone is working for that jersey.”

Cobbo is training with the reserves at Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

Maguire put Brisbane’s playing squad on notice in the pre-season when he declared every jersey was up for grabs.

He made a number of surprise selections for round 1 and dumping Cobbo to reserve grade seemed to spark the Broncos following four-straight losses.

“Madge (Maguire) always says that you’re only renting the jersey,” Arthars said.

“The way I look at it is that I want to play consistent footy to make sure I hold on to a jersey. That’s what everyone’s trying to do in the team.

“Everyone has seen how good Selwyn is. He’s played at Origin level and done awesome things for this club.

“I’m a big fan of Selly’s. I’m a teammate and mate off the field, but I’m sure when he comes back he’ll be firing and I can’t wait to play with him again.”

In the only change from the Titans game, Maguire has named Jack Gosiewski to return from a broken arm on the bench, with prop Ben Te Kura undergoing surgery on an ankle injury.

DOLPHINS v KNIGHTS

Saturday, 5:30pm, HBF Park, Perth

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Ray Stone 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Max Feagai 20. Aublix Tawha 21. Trau Fuller 22. Peter Hola

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Mathew Croker 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland

Interchange: 14. Brodie Jones 15. Thomas Cant 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

Reserves: 18. James Schiller 19. Jackson Hastings 20. Fletcher Hunt 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Jack Hetherington

BRONCOS v SHARKS

Sunday, 2:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Selwyn Cobbo 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Deine Mariner 22. Blake Mozer 23. Ben Talty

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolph 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Billy Burns 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Niwhai Puru 21.Jayden Berrell 22 Chris Vea’ila

ROOSTERS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Allianz Stadium

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whytei 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Salesi Foketi

Interchange: 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Zach Dockar-Clay 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu Reserves: 18. Ethan King 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Tom Rodwell 21. Taylor Losalu 22. Chad Townsend. 23. Xavier Va’a 24. Jake Elliott

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Sam McIntyre 16. Griffin Neame 17. Thomas Mikaele

18. Jake Clifford 19. Karl Lawton 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Braidon Burns 23. Thomas Duffy 24. Marly Bitungane

EELS v TITANS

Sunday, 6:15pm, CommBank Stadium

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange:14. Dylan Walker 15. Matt Doorey 16 Wiremu Greig 17. Jordan Samrani

Reserves: 18. Joey Lussick 19. Charlie Guymer 20. Dan Keir 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Samuel Loizou

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Phillip Sami 5. Allan Fitzgibbon 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas

Interchange: 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Tino Fa’asumaleaui 17. Mo Fotuaika

Reserves: 18. David Fifita 19. Tuki Simpkins 20. Sean Mullany 21. Tom Weaver 22. Brian Kelly

Originally published as NRL 2025: Selwyn Cobbo is in danger of being axed by the Brisbane Broncos amid claims his NRL professionalism isn’t up to standard