Gorden Tallis has criticised the Broncos for prioritising re-signing two veteran halfbacks over Selwyn Cobbo, who is potentially the future of the club.
Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt will both play for the Broncos in 2026 in what looms as their final seasons in first grade, but at 23, Cobbo looks like being forced out of a club he doesn’t want to leave.
Tallis believes the Broncos have been disrespectful to Cobbo by not leaving enough funds in their salary cap to re-sign him.
“The Selwyn Cobbo one is a bit funny to me because I think he is the future of the club,” Tallis said on NRL 360.
“They have re-signed Kotoni Staggs. They have got two 35-year-old No.7’s that they re-signed as a priority and they re-signed another hooker when they have got five.
“Then they have got this young talent and they leave $300,000, which I think is a little bit disrespectful for a State of Origin player and I don’t think he has lost that much mojo.
“In my opinion when Reece Walsh was out and he went back to fullback, he kept them in a few of those games, but obviously they don’t want him.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes Reynolds may have forced Cobbo out of the club.
“The interesting thing is Adam Reynolds said he would not sign a new deal until the other boys had because he didn’t want to force anyone out, well he has,” Rothfield said.
“I’m not blaming him, but it was a difficult decision.”
Rothfield revealed the Dragons were close to making a play for Cobbo and his asking price shows how far the Broncos are from keeping him.
“Selwyn Cobbo was in Sydney two weeks ago and he visited St George Illawarra and he spoke to coach Shane Flanagan,” Rothfield said.
“They were asking for about $650,000 to $700,000 and St George were quite keen to do a deal for a little bit less than that if they could get him this year because they have had injuries in the outside backs.
“I don’t think it is going to happen, but what it does show is how far the Broncos are off the pace with what the kid and the manager are looking for. They are not even halfway there.”
Braith Anasta added: “Let’s be honest they think they are still a chance of keeping him, but really they are not.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read believes the Broncos could find more room to up their offer to Cobbo, but the problem is his best form has been in a position they don’t need him to play.
“Not unless they find another $200,000 or $300,000 and clubs can do that sometimes when they need to,” Read said.
“They can move a couple of blokes and juggle some funds around, but at the moment, I know he played well at fullback for a couple of games, but they don’t need a fullback.
“They need him to play well when he is on the wing and he hasn’t been playing well, so that’s why he is in reserve grade and the kid who has come in Josiah Karapani is doing really well.”
“Maybe he is busted,” Tallis interjected.
Rothfield believes Hunt is an interesting signing because he will be trying to break into the hooker rotation when he returns from injury.
“You talk about the old halves they signed and it is an interesting one with Ben Hunt because when he comes back from injury I don’t think he is going to play five-eighth,” Rothfield said.
“Ezra Mam is comfortable there and he is obviously the future, so signing Hunt for those two years, not necessarily the Reynolds extension, might be what costs Selwyn Cobbo a spot at that club long-term.”
However, Read believes the Broncos are eyeing Hunt as their hooker until Blake Mozer develops into his replacement in 2027.
“I think they are looking at their spine next year with Ben Hunt at hooker and he is a pretty good hooker Ben Hunt,” Read said.
“He is probably the best hooker they have got on their roster. Obviously Cory Paix is not killing it because they are not re-signing him.
“They have obviously made a decision that Ben Hunt will be their hooker and they have got young Blake Mozer on a long-term deal.”
