In a stunning twist that has sent shockwaves through the NRL world, Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire appears ready to swing the axe on rising star Selwyn Cobbo, with the 23-year-old on the verge of being dropped from the first-grade squad this weekend.
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Once considered a cornerstone of the Broncos’ backline and a bright light in Queensland’s Origin setup, Cobbo’s 2025 campaign has been a positional merry-go-round — shifting from wing to fullback and now, possibly, to the sidelines.
Maguire refused to guarantee Cobbo’s place in the team, offering only vague comments to the media:
“We’re looking at how he is tracking at the moment. I’ll make those decisions after the captain’s run.”
While praising Cobbo’s occasional brilliance, Maguire’s tone suggested waning confidence.
“Selwyn is a good young man… he had some shining moments at fullback a few weeks ago. I just want him to keep improving.”
Cobbo’s potential exclusion couldn’t come at a worse time. Having already missed out on Maroons selection, he now faces being sidelined at club level — a brutal double blow as he fights for his next contract. Speculation is also mounting around his long-term future at Red Hill, with Maguire offering no clarity:
“That [his contract situation] will sort itself out as we keep pushing forward.”
With Cobbo teetering, young gun Josiah Karapani is tipped to get the nod after solid performances in reserve grade, while Deine Mariner is another contender for the wing spot. Maguire is expected to finalize the lineup following the captain’s run on Friday.
If Cobbo is cut, it would mark a dramatic fall for one of Queensland’s most promising talents — and signal that Maguire is willing to wield the big stick in pursuit of consistency and results.
