NRL Round 18 teams: Selwyn Cobbo earns Broncos recall, Ben Hunt return delayed

Two Broncos have been handed unlikely recalls, with Brisbane’s backline decimated by State of Origin, while a star player’s return from injury has been delayed. See the full squad.

Struggling Selwyn Cobbo is back from Broncos oblivion and has been given the daunting task of filling the Reece Walsh void in Friday night’s blockbuster against the Bulldogs in Sydney.

But the Broncos have received a setback with marquee off-season recruit Ben Hunt’s return delayed yet again in his frustrating battle with an ongoing hamstring injury.

Just days after denying the Cherbourg flyer a mid-season transfer to his future club the Dolphins, Broncos coach Michael Maguire has issued an SOS to out-of-favour aces Cobbo and Deine Mariner for the round 18 clash at Accor Stadium.

Maguire’s selection lifeline for Cobbo came as his former Australia coach, Mal Meninga, urged the ex-Queensland Origin star to have “no regrets” in the fight to save his teetering NRL career.

Queensland’s selection of Walsh and Maroons bolter Gehamat Shibasaki for the Origin decider has opened the door for exiled duo Cobbo and Mariner to make a statement against the high-flying Bulldogs.

Selwyn Cobbo has earned a stunning recall, just days after signing with the Dolphins for next season. Picture: NRL photos

Mariner will start at left centre in place of Shibasaki, while Cobbo gets a glorious chance to fire in Walsh’s absence and turn up the heat on Josiah Karapani, the man who took his wing spot.

Cobbo, who signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins for 2026 last Friday, last played for the Broncos on May 31 against Manly and will be out to prove a point against title contenders the Bulldogs.

“It’s exciting he is back, I have full trust in Selwyn,” Karapani said.

“I know he will do his job for the team and I know he is fired up to come back to the team and be the best he can.

“We have Cobbo and ‘Deino’ back in the squad which is good back-up for our team.

“I have full trust they will do their job this week against the Bulldogs and trust the game plan.”

Deine Mariner will replace Gehamat Shibasaki at centre after his surprise Origin selection. Picture: Getty Images

Karapani has been a revelation on Brisbane’s left wing with five tries from three games, but says there is no bad blood with Cobbo, praising the Dolphins-bound matchwinner for helping him in his double last week against the Warriors.

“Me and Selwyn talk every day at training, he gives me some tips,” Karapani said.

“Last week, I asked him before the (Warriors) game to give me some advice, I said, ‘If there’s anything to work on let me know’, so we had a pretty good chat at halftime.

“We spoke and I took it out there.

“Me and Selwyn have a good relationship, like all the boys, it’s a healthy competitive environment.

“He has reassured me. We all want to see each other succeed which is good.”

Ben Hunt’s return has been delayed by another week. Picture: Nigel Hallett

In other selection news, Maguire has been spared the agonising call of axing either Cory Paix or Billy Walters after Hunt’s return at hooker was put on ice for another week.

With Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan away on Origin duty, rising star Xavier Willison will start at prop, while Kobe Hetherington will wear the No.13 jumper.

Maguire is banking on Cobbo to deliver some magic at fullback and Meninga urged the 23-year-old to rediscover his passion for the game.

“He’s a great athlete and great player. I just think there’s a few issues off the field,” Meninga told radio SEN.

“He’s not handling the fame all that well I would suggest.

“We don’t want regrets. We don’t want Cobbo falling out of love and then 12 years down the track saying he could have been something.

“He’s got an issue, he’s not in love with the sport and he has to find that passion again to do what he does really well and that is play sport.”

BULLDOGS v BRONCOS

Friday, 8:00pm, Accor Stadium

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Enari Tuala z 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Harry Hayes 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Sam Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Bailey Hayward

Interchange: 14. Lachlan Galvin 15. Josh Curran 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Kurtis Morrin

Reserves: 19. Jake Turpin 20. Jethro Rinakama 21. Jack Todd 22. Luke Smith 23. Jack Underhill

Broncos

1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Tyson Smoothy 17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves: 18. Delouise Hoeter 19 Ben Talty 20. Blake Mozer 21. Va’a Semu 22. Josh Rogers

COWBOYS v STORM

Saturday, 7:35pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Harrison Edwards 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Sam McIntyre

Interchange: 14. Temple Kalepo 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kaiden Lahrs 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. Braidon Burns 19. Marly Bitungane 20. Jamal Shibasaki 21. Jaxson Paulo 23. Mason Kira

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 4. Nick Meaney 5. Kane Bradley 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Interchange: 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Ativalu Lisati

Reserves: 18. Josiah Pahulu 19. Coby Williamson 20. Gabriel Satrick 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Siulagi Pio

Originally published as NRL Round 18 teams: Selwyn Cobbo earns Broncos recall, Ben Hunt return delayed