NRL 2025: Selwyn Cobbo contract talks on hold as he fights for his Brisbane Broncos career

Selwyn Cobbo’s contract talks with Brisbane are on hold, as he fights for his future at Red Hill after new Broncos coach Michael Maguire challenged him to live up to his potential.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has challenged Selwyn Cobbo to live up to his “special” potential in the code as the young gun fights for his future at Red Hill.

Cobbo became a free agent a fortnight ago and his agent has put contract talks on hold to allow the 22-year-old to focus on recapturing the form that made him a Queensland Origin sensation.

The Broncos have a staggering 13 players coming off-contract next season, including skipper Adam Reynolds, but it’s Cobbo and backline cohort Kotoni Staggs who shape as two critical retention projects.

There were fears the Broncos faced a $1 million bidding war for Cobbo earlier this season, but the Maroons star endured a turbulent finish to 2024 that coincided with Brisbane’s freefall.

The Broncos have put Selwyn Cobbo contract talks on hold. Picture: NRL Imagery

The Broncos are now content to take a wait-and-see approach with contract talks and that also suits Cobbo’s management, who are in no rush to thrash out a new deal as the Cherbourg product works his way back to peak fitness.

Cobbo is into his second week of the 2025 pre-season and while there were some concerns about his conditioning, Maguire dismissed suggestions the 105kg utility back is unfit.

The new Broncos coach wants Cobbo to focus on football rather than contracts, insisting a lucrative extension at Red Hill will materialise if the outside back returns to his matchwinning best.

“His actions on the footy field will do the talking,” Maguire said.

“If Selwyn focuses on the training part, most of the contract stuff will sort itself out _ it always does.

“If he gets super fit, that will show his attitude anyway.

“I have been impressed with Selwyn in my few weeks here already.

“His application is there and I have really enjoyed his company already, we’ve had some good chats and he’s a good kid.

“He is a very talented young man and has some special qualities about him.

“He just has to play consistently and if he gets super fit he will do that.”

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has challenged Cobbo to live up to his potential and get back to his game-breaking best. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The Broncos handed superstar fullback Reece Walsh a $4.4 million extension a fortnight ago and that places further pressure on Brisbane’s bottom line to afford Staggs and Cobbo under the salary cap.

Currently on around $650,000, Cobbo has yet to truly test his value on the open market, but his preference is to remain at the Broncos, who have yet to table a new deal for 2026 and beyond.

It will cost the Broncos around $1.5 million to keep both Cobbo and Staggs and one may well have to go if Brisbane ramp-up their pursuit of Queensland Origin utility Ben Hunt.

Brisbane are keen to hold talks with Hunt’s management and if the former Dragons halfback opted for a Red Hill homecoming, it would be nigh impossible for the Broncos to have the funds to retain Cobbo and Staggs.

Cobbo’s management has previously claimed the tryscoring whiz could attract $1 million offers on the open market, but Maguire is determined for his strike centres not to be squeezed out.

Selwyn Cobbo sweats it out during pre season training with the Broncos at Red Hill. Picture: Adam Head

“I’d like to think we can keep Selwyn and Kotoni,” Maguire said.

“We are a good chance (of keeping both), we have to work through a few things but keeping both of them is pretty important.

“I want to keep Selwyn because when he is at his best, he is one hell of a talent.”

More than 20 years of coaching has exposed Maguire to some poor trainers and he is adamant Cobbo is putting in. He scoffed at suggestions his hard-edge style could push the free-spirited Cobbo to breaking point.

“I’d like to think through my coaching career I know how to manage individuals,” he said.

“I get to know the person before I worry about the footballer and that’s the best thing about coaching.

“Selwyn is fine. I love dealing with young men and when you get the best out of them and take them to places they haven’t been to before, it’s a great experience.”

Originally published as NRL 2025: Selwyn Cobbo contract talks on hold as he fights for his Brisbane Broncos career