Michael Maguire in surprising Selwyn Cobbo move as Broncos face ugly call on Origin star
The club is facing a very difficult situation as they try to hold onto all their stars.
Selwyn Cobbo could be set for a positional switch in 2025 with the Broncos facing the real prospect of losing the star due to salary cap pressure. The Broncos were linked to a shock NRL move this week with the club set to sign Storm flyer Grant Anderson.
The Broncos are seemingly under salary cap pressure, but moved to lock down the outside back for 2026. And the move has only raised eyebrows with both Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs' futures at the club in limbo.
Maguire recently praised Staggs' leadership at Broncos training and the centre could be set for a new deal. However, this leaves Cobbo in trouble with the club seemingly unable to offer him a boosted deal after the 2025 season.
And to make matters more interesting, Maguire has admitted he could shift Cobbo to the wing in 2025. Cobbo played the majority of the 2024 season at centre, but never lived up to the same form that saw him selected for State of Origin in 2022.
He featured on the wing when there were injuries to Deine Mariner or Jesse Arthurs throughout the season, but played alongside Staggs in the centres. However, Maguire is looking for a different balance to the team and has admitted he could shift the 22-year-old to the wing to accomodate his style of play.
“Selwyn is potentially a wing option, yes,” Maguire told The Courier Mail. “Sel can definitely play on the wing and at centre at a high level, so I need to look at the balance of the team.
“With the wingers in this day and age, they play a different style. Selwyn is a good sized body and he is pretty handy at bringing the ball back, so I’m working out at the moment the best way to go with Selwyn.
Maguire pointed to Mariner as a potential option at centre, which is a telling move from the coach if he opts for the two to switch positions. Broncos great Corey Parker claimed Cobbo could push the $1 million a season deal mark with his talents if a rival club comes knocking. However, it remains to be seen if Cobbo wants to leave Brisbane.
Kotoni Staggs keen to stay at the Broncos
While Cobbo's future appears uncertain, Staggs has made his desire to stay in Brisbane quite clear. The centre has spoken to his coach and Maguire revealed: "Kotoni definitely wants to be a Bronco and has spoken to me about what the club means to him. Those players we want to keep here, hang on to and keep growing as Broncos."
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Cobbo's positional switch and the emergence of Anderson as a potential signing does spell trouble for the talented 22-year-old. The Melbourne Storm back as struggled for playing time in Melbourne behind the likes of Xavier Coates, William Warbrick, Nick Meaney and the emerging Jack Howarth.
Although he did feature 14 times in 2024 and scored eight tries. He could be the replacement Maguire is looking for in case Cobbo opts to take a bigger deal at a rival club and walkaway from the Broncos.
