Selwyn Cobbo set to be dropped as Michael Maguire explains selection shake-up

Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo is set to be demoted to the Hostplus Cup in a move that could have major ramifications for the Broncos. Plus why ‘Madge’ axed Kobe Hetherington.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire is weighing up a bombshell decision to drop Maroons hopeful Selwyn Cobbo in a move that could send the Kangaroos flyer out of Brisbane.

Cobbo is set to be axed for Saturday’s M1 derby against the last-placed Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.

Unheralded flyer Josiah Karapani is being lined up for an NRL recall following consistent form in reserve grade while Deine Mariner is another option on the wing.

Maguire’s axing of Cobbo will send shockwaves through Red Hill and raise questions about his future at the Broncos.

Cobbo, 23, is off-contract at the end of this season and yet to receive an extension offer from the Broncos while being courted by rival clubs.

He was overlooked by Queensland coach Billy Slater for selection in Origin I and then shifted from fullback to the wing in last week’s loss to Manly.

Cobbo made 21 runs for 151m against the Sea Eagles and was named on the wing for the Titans game, but is expected to be a late withdrawal.

Maguire confirmed Cobbo’s position in the team was uncertain.

“We’re looking at how he is tracking at the moment, I’ll make those decisions after the captain’s run (on Friday),” he said.

“We have some standards and expectations around what we want to achieve here and that’s what we have to live by.

Selwyn Cobbo could be axed for the Titans clash. Picture: NRL Photos

“Selwyn is a good young man and I just want him to keep improving. He had some shining moments at fullback a few weeks ago.

“That (contract talks) will sort itself out as we keep pushing forward.”

It is increasingly unlikely Cobbo will earn a Queensland recall for Origin II in Perth on Wednesday week following the latest ruction.

The Broncos are yet to make Cobbo an offer as the club deals with a salary cap crunch due to 14 players coming off-contract and captain Adam Reynolds’ decision to play on in 2026.

Cobbo is chasing a bumper payday and there is no certainty the Broncos will be able to retain him along with highly-paid centre Kotoni Staggs, who has agreed to a three-year extension.

Cobbo’s manager Tas Bartlett confirmed his demotion to the Hostplus Cup, but insisted the Cherbourg flyer is still hopeful of remaining at the Broncos.

“This doesn’t affect our negotiations with the Broncos,” he said.

“Selwyn loves the club and ideally wants to be a Bronco for life like ‘Alfie’ Langer.

“We’ll continue talks and he will go back and work on his game.”

Cobbo started the season on the wing then spent four games at fullback in place of the injured Reece Walsh.

Broncos legend Steve Renouf told NRL360 this week that Cobbo looked “lethargic” in recent performances.

“Selwyn’s had a lot of pressure put on him,” Renouf said.

“You’ve got to see what he’s done in a short period of time. He was only a kid when he got here, the next minute he’s playing Origin and for Australia.

“There’s this added pressure on young Selwyn.

“I rate him as a young player but I must admit, I don’t know if he’s been injured the last couple of weeks but he looks a little bit lethargic.

“That’s not a personal knock on Selwyn. We all go through that. We carry injuries and don’t have good games.

“He is an exciting player. How can we spark these young kids to perform consistently every week?”

Mariner has been named in jersey No. 19 but Maguire is expected to hand Karapani his first NRL game of the season.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire. Picture: Liam Kidston

The bolter has been racking up sublime numbers for Burleigh, charging for 215m and scoring a try in last week’s Hostplus Cup win against Mackay. He played 10 NRL games for Brisbane last year.

With Karapani on the right ring, Jesse Arthars will return to his usual spot on the left where he has scored 11 tries this season.

The Broncos have lost six of their past seven games, falling to 11th spot on the NRL ladder with a 5-7 record.

Maguire desperately needs a win against the Titans to steady the ship before a bye.

The under siege coach has made multiple changes to his team this week, moving Pat Carrigan from the front row to his preferred position at lock before axing Cobbo.

MADGE EXPLAINS AXINGS

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has explained the axing of Kobe Hetherington as he backed Pat Carrigan’s return to lock to spark a Broncos fightback in Saturday night’s derby against the Titans.

Maguire has shaken up his forward pack in a desperate bid to kickstart Brisbane’s season after a Manly midfield mauling last week consigned the Broncos to six losses from their past seven starts.

But the Broncos coach insists he is not hitting the panic button and is adamant he has the right fusion of forward talent, toughness and workrate to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought this season.

The Hetherington No.13 experiment is over after just 12 matches, with Maguire relegating the hitman to the bench and reverting prop Carrigan to the lock position where he won the Paul Morgan Medal last season.

* All statistics courtesy of CODE Sports

Hetherington has averaged 69 metres a game this season, including just 25 against Manly last week, and Maguire believes the “subtle” change can ignite a major mid-season response - starting against the Titans.

“I am confident the changes I have made will help the team,” Maguire said.

“I’ve spoken to Kobe and I just wanted to change up the middle of the park.

“Kobe has done some good things but in recent years he has been very effective off the bench and I like the energy he brings to the team with his defence when he comes on.

“The slight tweak will bring a different dynamic.

“Corey (Jensen) has been very consistent for us off the bench this season and he deserves his spot in the starting team (alongside Payne Haas in the front row).”

Carrigan has been typically tireless in the engine room, averaging a remarkable 178m per game, but there is a view he is better suited to the loose forward position where he can also operate as a linkman to the backline.

The Maroons ironman was privately disappointed to lose the No.13 jumper and Maguire says Carrigan’s return to his beloved spot can provide a psychological boost.

“Pat won’t have to shift too much from what he has been doing,” Maguire said. “He has been playing a similar role anyway with the ball, but if it makes him feel better wearing that No.13 jumper, that can only benefit the team.”

Brisbane legend Gorden Tallis lashed Brisbane in the wake of their 34-6 loss to the Sea Eagles. He believes the side isn’t playing the entertaining brand of “Broncos football” that swept the club to six premierships, but Maguire says he hasn’t made drastic changes to the style that helped Brisbane to the 2023 grand final.

“Rugby league is the simplest game you can find,” he said.

“Every team does the same thing, it’s how you do it better at moments in time.

“It’s the one percent stuff Penrith and Melbourne have done so well.

“As a coach, when we say do your job, it’s do your job at that moment in time so then that applies pressure to the opposition. You have to get everyone’s headspace right. Humans are emotional. The mental space is crucial.

“When you have a few losses, everyone tightens up a bit, but it just takes one win and everyone lightens a little bit.”

Maguire is adamant he has the roster to deliver Brisbane’s seventh premiership.

“I’m seeing commitment every day from this group,” he said.

“I’m loving what I am doing because I don’t have to say, ‘Hey boys, you aren’t pulling your weight, they are already doing the extras.

“Unfortunately, it’s hard to portray that desire when you aren’t winning. But hopefully we aren’t far off and people will see these guys are genuinely committed to winning.

“It has to start this weekend.”