Selector makes call on Cobbo's Maroons role

Selwyn Cobbo’s swift transition from the wing to the centres has caught the attention of Origin selectors, as Queensland coach Billy Slater’s selection headache continues to grow.

The 21-year-old’s performance in the centres during the Broncos’ 28-14 triumph over the Dolphins earned praise from league legends Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis, as the young star continues to make his mark in his push for Maroons selection.

Cobbo has played four games in the Queensland jersey, scoring two tries in the opening game of the 2023 series.

The Broncos star was ruled out of the second and third games in last year’s series due to a hip injury, but has shown selectors he has the ability to slip in the gap and play in the centres if incumbent Maroons star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is not cleared for return.

Tabuai-Fidow played in the centres for all three games in last year’s Origin series and will remain on the sidelines for the next four to six weeks due to a hamstring injury.

The Dolphins star is likely to race the clock to be fit for a return for the series opener at Accor Stadium on June 5, with his expected return to play roughly three weeks beforehand.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports QLDER, Maroons selector Darren Lockyer compared the young winger to league legend Greg Inglis, revealing he believes Cobbo’s success in the centres has the potential to become a dangerous threat.

“I think it’s been a really well-measured start to the year,” the Queensland great said.

Selwyn Cobbo scoring a try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“He can play fullback, he can play wing, but I think left-centre. We’ve always talked about it, he’s very similar to Greg Inglis. He’s going to be pretty dangerous in that left centre position.

“One of the things that I’m not nervous about but had some reservation about was whether he could handle the workload. But every week he has been building into good performance… and I think he will go from strength to strength here.”

With Origin selections less than a month away, Lockyer revealed he does not think Cobbo will play in the centres for the Maroons, with North Queensland’s Valentine Holmes and the Dolphins Tabuai-Fidow leading contenders for the spot.

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“I think if Hammer is fit and Val is fit, I think Billy probably goes that way first,” the former Maroons captain said.

“There is a fair bit of difference to playing centre to the wing in terms of making decisions defensively but also the workload with getting back for the kick and hit ups.

“If you’re not doing that regularly every week… I think there’s a bit of an adjustment that Billy would need to consider.

“As we know, a lot can happen in a week in the NRL. It comes down a lot to the fitness and form of players but the incumbents always get a bit of an advantage.

“But if Selwyn keeps playing well every week he will give himself the best chance.”

Selwyn Cobbo scores his first try for the Maroons. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Maroons great Lewis agreed with Lockyer, revealing he believes Cobbo will remain on the wing at Origin level.

“[Lockyer] hit the nail on the head there… it’s not his preferred position,” said Lewis.

“There are other players available to fill that role. It would’ve been encouraging for the selectors to see how well he went and know that if need be he could be used in that position.

“He’s big, strong, powerful, and can be used there… I think we’ve seen him excel on the wing previously and realised that that’s probably his number one priority.

“But who knows, injuries often happen a week short of State of Origin games and decisions need to be made.”