Brisbane Broncos: Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo attacking partnership lighting up finals run

Last year Selwyn Cobbo ran out of steam following a gruelling NRL campaign. This time around, with the help of Reece Walsh, he’s flying at finals time and closing in on a 25-year record.

Selwyn Cobbo and Reece Walsh

Selwyn Cobbo has put NRL finals rivals on notice, saying he and Reece Walsh have an attacking alliance that can’t be coached as the Broncos winger sets his sights on Brisbane’s tryscoring record.

Cobbo goes into Saturday week’s grand-final qualifier with 20 tries and is within striking distance of the Broncos record for most tries in a season, jointly held by Steve Renouf (23 in 1994) and Darren Smith (23 in 1998).

It would be fitting if Cobbo scored four more tries from a possible two games to surpass Renouf, the Murgon centre legend who has taken on a mentoring role with the whiz-kid winger from Cherbourg.

While Renouf has been a trusted sounding board off the field for the 21-year-old Cobbo, Walsh has been a potent ally on it.

Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo. Picture: NRL Imagery

The Cobbo-Walsh combination has wreaked havoc on NRL defences this season.

Operating on their special brand of Indigenous flair, the duo have combined for a staggering 6372 running metres, 29 tries, 36 linebreaks and 215 tackle busts and Cobbo says the secret is their unspoken simpatico built as kids at the Broncos Academy.

That makes the unpredictable Cobbo and Walsh offensive tandem a nightmare for NRL opponents.

“He (Walsh) has been really helpful this year for me,” Cobbo said.

“Growing up through the academy, we have that little connection.

“Sometimes I don’t even talk to Reece … he just puts the ball in front of me.

“We have that great connection.

“It’s a real privilege to work beside Reece and play beside him.

“He is an amazing guy, he is gifted and a natural footy player.

“To play outside of him is great.

“We have different abilities and talents … but we both have the same goal.”

This time last year, Cobbo was a mental and physical wreck. He was recovering from a sickening concussion in State of Origin III and, feeling the effects of his first full season in the NRL, the Queensland rookie confessed to Broncos coach Kevin Walters he was burnt out.

Walters gave him time off on the eve of the finals.

In Brisbane’s final regular-season game against the Dragons, which they needed to win to qualify for the playoffs, Cobbo turned up to the captain’s run late and was put through a gruelling boxing session as punishment.

Cobbo has bounced back from a challenging 2022. Picture: Josh Woning

The Broncos ultimately bombed out of the finals race and while Cobbo appeared a tired soul at the crossroads by season’s end, he says the lessons of the 2022 campaign have toughened him up for a premiership tilt.

Cobbo goes into the preliminary final fully fit in body and mind, a mindset helped by brief trips home to see his family in Cherbourg, similar to South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell’s getaways to Taree.

“I have the experience from last year,” he said.

“My body is now coping at this level.

“We have the best physios and staff, they look after me.

“Going back to Cherbourg, it’s a switch off from footy and to kick back with the family takes footy off my mind.

“It helps me rest my mind to come back to the Broncos for the training stuff.

“It’s my second year this year. I learnt a lot from last year and coming into this season I had that experience and it makes me better every time I step onto the footy field.

“I learnt a lot last year about preparation.

“Being organised has made me a better footy player.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos: Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo attacking partnership lighting up finals run