Wayne Bennett’s blunt response over axed Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has responded to reports linking the Rabbitohs with axed Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo.

Souths coach Wayne Bennet emphatically denied reports linking the Rabbitohs with axed Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo after he was dropped by Brisbane coach Michael Maguire.

Cobbo is off-contract in 2025 and has been linked with the Dragons, Roosters, Tigers and Rabbitohs, as well as the new PNG expansion team.

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The former Maroons and Kangaroos star was dropped by Maguire ahead of their 44-14 win over the Titans, in favour of Josiah Karapani, who scored a double, sparking rumours he may be on his way out of Red Hill.

However, Bennett told The Daily Telegraph that Souths will not be making a play for his services and have had no contact with his management.

Selwyn Cobbo’s future at the Broncos remains up in the air.

“He isn’t coming to Souths,” Bennett said.

“I don’t know where this report has come from but I haven’t had a single meeting with Selwyn Cobbo. I don’t know him. I’ve never met him.

“Look, Selwyn is a wonderful talent but there’s been no discussions for him to come here.

“For a start, with our salary cap the way it is, we can’t afford him.

“Selwyn isn’t going to take a pay cut to come to Souths, so it’s not even an option for us anyway. I’ve had no chats with him.”

Maguire denied dropping Cobbo had anything to do with his future at the club and remains open to recalling him when his form and fitness improves.

“I don’t look at it from that point of view (Cobbo quitting the Broncos),” he said.

“’Selly’ and I talk all the time about what we need to do, so I’ll keep that (conversation) between us.

“There’s obviously things that every player goes through at times and this is no different.

“Selly’s in the background doing his work to make sure he gets himself right.”

Cobbo’s management remain hopeful Cobbo can re-sign with the Broncos and be a one club player.

“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.

Wayne Bennett has shot down any play for Cobbo. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

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

The 23-year-old has scored 48 tries in 80 NRL games since his debut in 2021 and has scored two tries in six Origins for Queensland and played one Test for the Kangaroos to date.

Cobbo has struggled for form since being switched to the centres after scoring 20 tries in 24 games on the wing on route to the 2023 Grand Final.

Maguire returned Cobbo to the wing in 2025 where he has scored five tries in 12 games, but he paid the price for the Broncos losing six of their lasts even games before the win over the Gold Coast in Round 14.

Originally published as Wayne Bennett’s blunt response over axed Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo