‘Big decision but the right one’: Selwyn Cobbo Origin 2 axing truth revealed

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer has revealed why Selwyn Cobbo was dropped for Game 2 after Billy Slater’s selection bomb.

The selection drama raised some questions. Photo – Monique Harmer

Queensland legend and selector Darren Lockyer has revealed Selwyn Cobbo admitted to Maroons coach Billy Slater that he wasn’t physically or mentally where he needed to be for Origin.

Cobbo’s selection was seen as a masterstroke after questions over why Slater would carry an extra back on his bench in the lead up to Origin 1.

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But the move paid off when Reece Walsh was wiped out of the match seven minutes in due to Joseph Sua’ali’i’s high shot, which saw the Blues debutant sent off.

Although Slater was questioned over Cobbo’s in the first match, he was questioned once again after announcing his side for Game 2 when the Broncos back was omitted as the Maroons announced four forwards on the bench.

However, Lockyer told The Courier Mail that it was Cobbo who had all but ruled himself out.

Cobbo has privately been battling an injury and playing with painkilling injections.

“The decision in the end was pretty easy for Bill,” Lockyer said.

“I congratulate Selwyn for being open and honest about it.

“He is carrying a few niggles at the moment and it’s affecting him mentally.

“He was pretty open and honest with Bill about whether he was capable of performing in that arena. There is nowhere to hide in Origin.

“I think he is young, and I think his time (in the Origin arena), it’s not like it’s over.

“He will be back in the Maroons jersey at some point, but now is not the right time to push him physically and mentally given that we are one-up in the series. That’s a luxury Bill has got.

“It’s a big decision (to omit Cobbo for Origin II) but at the same time it’s the right one.”

Selwyn Cobbo hasn’t been 100 per cent. Photo: NRL Photos

Similarly, Wally Lewis said the decision was the “best thing” for both the team and the player.

“Players sometimes tell a fib to their teammates as well as the doctor to get themselves through a game like that,” Lewis said on Channel 9’s Origin podcast.

“You have to question if they will be considered for the next match should they not be at their best.

“It’s a pretty tough call, but honesty is the best policy for an Origin match.

“If you pull out, you are doing the best thing for yourself, your teammates and your state.”

While Cobbo had his equal best running game of the season last week against the Rabbitohs with 228m, he also struggled with four handling errors. It comes a week after Cobbo was sidestepped by Cronulla’s Sione Katoa for a try from a scrum win.

Cobbo reportedly also needed a needle to play in Game 1.

Slater said Cobbo wasn’t 100 per cent when he announced the team.

“Selwyn has only just turned 22 and sometimes we forget that these guys are still young men developing physically, they’re still developing their game and they’re still building that consistency in their game,” Slater said.

“Everyone is different, it’s not one size fits all and I just felt that this was the right thing for Selwyn, to have a break.”

Selwyn Cobbo’s omission raised some questions. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But it ignited a debate over Queensland’s much vaunted “pick and stick” policy.

On Monday, The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast radio that it was possible “something outside of general reasons of players with injuries” could be at play.

Speaking on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, Braith Anasta asked Dean Ritchie about the “conspiracy theory”.

“Well it hasn’t been explained clearly yet from the Queensland camp why. They’re dodging around as to why he was not included,” Ritchie said.

“My only theory is … Queensland shove it in our faces every single bloody year ‘we pick and we stick’ yet here’s Selwyn Cobbo, comes on after seven minutes, unfamiliar territory, plays the lights out and then they get rid of him.

“Why did they get rid of him and where’s this famous pick and stick gone?”

While Ritchie claimed “If NSW do it, it’s ruthless, brutal and we’ve axed him. What’s the difference?” before adding the “pick and stick” is “BS”.

Gorden Tallis ended the conversation saying: “You know what, we’ll pick the right coach and players to win trophies.”