Reece Walsh’s cheeky Bulldogs swipe as teammate Selwyn Cobbo exposes $5m headache

Broncos livewire fullback Reece Walsh has taken a cheeky dig after he was upstaged by his replacement Selwyn Cobbo.

Injured Broncos fullback Reece Walsh did not miss his opportunity to stick the knife into the Bulldogs despite it becoming clear his side is arguably stronger without him.

Brisbane fired on all cylinders on Thursday night in a 42-18 win over Canterbury, with Walsh’s fullback understudy Selwyn Cobbo looking near unstoppable.

Cobbo was shifted into the No. 1 jumper ahead of their clash with the Dogs with Walsh out for several weeks with a PCL injury, and in just one game the 22-year-old showed that fullback is where he is meant to be.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

In 2025 Brisbane’s attack has looked disjointed and many pointed to Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds as the problem.

However, in the absence of superstar fullback Walsh, they looked silky smooth with Cobbo showing he is the real deal at fullback and that Walsh may have been the issue all along.

Despite many feeling Cobbo is better suited to be the Broncos’ fullback, Walsh, 22, still took the chance to take a potshot at the Bulldogs.

“My dawgs are havin’ a party,” Walsh posted with a fire emoji alongside the final score on Instagram.

The post mocks Canterbury’s team song ‘The Dogs are having a party’, and the move is sure to ignite the heated rivalry ahead of the teams’ Round 18 clash.

Reece Walsh mocked the Bulldogs. Image: Instagram

Selwyn Cobbo was a revelation at fullback for the Broncos on the weekend (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

However, for Walsh, his focus should in the meantime be on proving he is the right man to lead them forward.

Cobbo exposed he has been the weak link in the early season, with his ‘erratic’ play often leading to attacks breaking down.

In his place, Cobbo injected himself into the play with ease, and didn’t force his involvements.

And Broncos great Justin Hodges believes Walsh may no longer be the Broncos’ No. 1 when fit again, declaring Cobbo is better suited at the back.

“I think that’s (Cobbo at fullback) what they need,” Hodges told Code Sports.

“It’s no disrespect to Reece, we love the way he plays but sometimes he can be a little bit too erratic.

Reece Walsh was upstaged by fullback Selwyn Cobbo. Image: Getty

“I just don’t think we need that.

“We’ve got so many dangerous players in that Broncos outfit, I think Selwyn just did his job tonight.

“He didn’t try to get too creative, he didn’t try to draw and pass, he didn’t try to get on the block shape.

“He took his medicine when he had to. When you have Reno, Hunt, Billy Walters and the forward pack just let them do the work.

“That’s what Selwyn did, he just chimed in when he had to.”

Cobbo finished the Bulldogs win with a try assist, a linebreak assist, four tackle breaks and 119 run metres, sparking a debate about whether he may be the Broncos’ long-term fullback.

Broncos face a major $5m headache

But the reality the Broncos must first face is they may have got it terribly wrong ahead of the 2025 season, by re-signing Walsh likely at the expense of Cobbo.

At the end of last year, the Broncos rewarded Walsh with a staggering $5 million extension.

And while the Broncos are inside the salary cap this year due to Walsh’s new bumper deal not coming into effect until 2026, they need to cut some players ahead of 2026 due to several hefty pay rises coming into effect next season.

Reece Walsh penned a $5m contract extension ahead of the 2025 season. Picture NRL Photos

Cobbo, who is on $650,000 a season at Brisbane is expected to make way, however, if Michael Maguire believes he could be a better fullback than Walsh, he may instead decide to cut elsewhere as they have no shortage of options.

Incredibly of Brisbane’s top 30, who are all on full-time deals, half of them are off-contract at the end of 2025.

Many of those will either be let go or receive improved contracts to stay at Red Hill.

Maguire will also need to consider if Cobbo plays fullback, where does the $5m man go?

Many decisions loom at Red Hill for Maguire which could ultimately make or break his tenure up north.

Originally published as Reece Walsh’s cheeky Bulldogs swipe as teammate Selwyn Cobbo exposes $5m headache