Kevin Walters makes shock early call to replace key Brisbane Bronco

Coach Kevin Walters has named a shock replacement for Herbie Farnworth, who quit the Broncos to join a key rival.

Selwyn Cobbo will make a positional switch to start the new campaign. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has revealed Selwyn Cobbo will make a shock positional shift from the wing to the centres to replace the departed Herbie Farnworth.

Cobbo has played most of his three NRL seasons to date on the wing for the Red Hill club, bagging 37 tries in 49 games and cementing himself in the Queensland and Australian representative teams.

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But Herbie Farnworth’s defection to the Dolphins – alongside teammate Tom Flegler – has left a gap at left centre.

And Walters revealed on Monday that Cobbo will be given first crack at that position, ahead of 20-year-old rising star Deine Mariner.

Herbie Farnworth was a key part of the Broncos’ charge to last season’s grand final. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“That’s the plan, to move him into that role. It’s probably a bit more natural for him in the centres than the wing,” Walters said.

“So far he’s been really good there, I guess we’ll find out more when we start playing, and he starts having to make more tackles and do all those things the great centres do.

“He’s still only young Selwyn, he’s still maturing, but his fitness levels and strength will get better as the year goes on.

“His footy IQ is very good, he’s a very intelligent player, which you need to be playing those centre roles – particularly defensively I feel and that’s where he’s going to be a good asset for us with the way he reads the attack.”

Selwyn Cobbo will make a positional switch to start the new campaign. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

He added: “We’ve got some good options there. Part of this time of the year is to have players in training situations to see how they handle that.

“Deine’s obviously a good young player, it’s just a matter of finding the right position for him.”

Mariner made four appearances last season on the wing, bagging five tries and three assists along the way.

But he’ll now have to battle 29-year-old veteran Corey Oates for Cobbo’s vacant right-wing spot, with Jesse Arthars likely to start on the other flank after nine tries in 20 games last season.

Oates battled injuries throughout last season, failing to score a try in his nine appearances.

Originally published as Kevin Walters makes shock early call to replace key Brisbane Bronco