Selwyn Cobbo cops $1 million blow at Broncos as Josh Addo-Carr's new NRL team revealed
Cobbo's contract talks with Brisbane have been put on hold.
Michael Maguire has put the brakes on contract negotiations with Selwyn Cobbo as the Broncos coach wants the exciting centre to focus on training and getting in shape ahead of the 2025 season. Cobbo became a free agent a fortnight ago and his agent and the club have come to the mutual decision to put talks of a new deal on hold to allow the 22-year-old to focus on recapturing the form that saw him play for Australia and Queensland in State of Origin.
The Broncos have a staggering 13 players coming off-contract next season, including skipper Adam Reynolds, but it is star duo Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs that Brisbane fans are most worried about heading out the door. There were serious fears the Broncos could be drawn into a bidding war for Cobbo earlier this year, with talks he could command at least $1 million a season. But Cobbo's struggles in the back half of the season, which coincided with the club's free fall down the ladder, has seen NRL rivals' interest in the youngster cool.
According to the Courier Mail, Cobbo's hopes of getting $1 million per year have taken a hit, and he might need to settle for much less than that. The Broncos are now content to take a wait-and-see approach with the centre and Cobbo's management is also in no rush to secure a new deal.
The 22-year-old returned to training last week and while there were concerns he was lacking conditioning, Maguire has been impressed with his early work and believes if he can get fit he will show just how "special" of a talent he is in 2025. "His actions on the footy field will do the talking," Maguire told the Courier Mail. "If Selwyn focuses on the training part, most of the contract stuff will sort itself out, it always does. If he gets super fit, that will show his attitude anyway.
"I have been impressed with Selwyn in my few weeks here already. His application is there and I have really enjoyed his company already, we’ve had some good chats and he’s a good kid. He is a very talented young man and has some special qualities about him. He just has to play consistently and if he gets super fit he will do that."
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Reece Walsh deal puts salary cap squeeze on Brisbane
The Broncos rewarded superstar fullback Reece Walsh with a staggering $4.4 million extension a fortnight ago. But that deal has made it difficult to afford Staggs and Cobbo under the salary cap. Currently on around $650,000 each, Cobbo and Staggs could both likely command more on the open market but both are understood to prefer to stay put.
It will cost the Broncos around $1.5 million realistically to keep them, however, and with the club also understood to be interested in Queensland utility Ben Hunt, something has to give. But Maguire is confident that whatever happens, he can hold onto both Cobbo and Staggs.
"I’d like to think we can keep Selwyn and Kotoni,” Maguire said previously. "We are a good chance (of keeping both), we have to work through a few things but keeping both of them is pretty important. I want to keep Selwyn because when he is at his best, he is one hell of a talent."
Josh Addo-Carr set to sign with Parramatta Eels
Meanwhile, Josh Addo-Carr is set to return to the NRL in 2025 after reportedly agreeing a two-year deal with the Parramatta Eels. News Corp reports the Eels have won a bidding war for the representative winger who was also heavily linked with the Dragons.
But the Eels have got their man, with Addo-Carr set to form a formidable wing partnership with new recruit Zac Lomax. Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has a history with Addo-Carr from their time at the Storm when the new Eels mentor was an assistant to Melbourne super coach Craig Bellamy, and he is confident he can bring out the best in the winger. His signing is also much needed given the fact winger Maika Sivo (Leeds), utility back Blaize Talagi (Penrith) and skipper Clint Gutherson (Dragons) have all left the club ahead of the 2025 season.
