Selwyn Cobbo cops brutal Michael Maguire update as Broncos set for Kotoni Staggs play
The Brisbane Broncos are feeling the brutal salary cap squeeze after Reece Walsh's extension.
The Broncos look set to re-sign Kotoni Staggs as a priority with Selwyn Cobbo's manager reportedly reaching out to other clubs for an offer. Cobbo and Staggs were left in limbo at the Broncos with former coach Kevin Walters admitting the big deals of Ezra Mam, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan have put pressure on the salary cap.
Reece Walsh also finally extended his stay at the Broncos in a mega $5 million deal, which will see him become the highest-paid player in the club's history. However, Walsh taking up the mega-deal has added to the Broncos' salary cap squeeze.
Before he was let go, former coach Walters talked about the issues retaining both Staggs and Cobbo under the current salary cap at the club. And speaking Friday, reporter Brent Read has claimed Staggs is more likely to stay at the Broncos with Cobbo's manager reportedly reaching out to rival clubs to see his worth. This is a telling move from new coach Michael Maguire if the Broncos do seek to tie down Staggs first.
"This is another big one. Kotoni is a priority at the moment now. I reckon they will knock him over, they will get a deal done," Read said on Triple M Radio. "They are told he wants to stay and they'll get a deal done. Selwyn is real interesting...he is obviously an elite player, but it is hard to see him outside of Brisbane.
"I know his management has been ringing clubs trying to drive that price up. I find it hard to see Selwyn coming to Sydney. That means they have to drum up interest in Brisbane."
Read claimed not many of the Queensland NRL teams need a centre at the moment, which leaves Cobbo's next move a must watch. "It is really interesting, Selwyn may have to stay in Brisbane. But to stay in Brisbane, he will probably have to take less money than what he gets on the open market. It will be difficult to keep both those blokes, someone will have to take less money and at the moment it will be Selwyn Cobbo. But that is a decision he will have to make."
Corey Parker's huge Selwyn Cobbo praise
The likes of Corey Parker have claimed Cobbo could seek around $1 million a year with a new contract from rival clubs. While it remains to be seen what he is worth, Walters confirmed the club was facing a dilemma to hold onto both Staggs and Cobbo.
"They are both going to demand a lot of money, but what we need to do is find a compromise with both those players where they are staying here and playing in a great side and a great club, and taking a little bit less money possibly, but staying here and being successful," Walters said previously about his star centres. "Kotoni is a Bronco to the bone and so is Selwyn. That's the target, to keep both. That's what I want to do as the coach. It is going to be difficult, but rugby league is difficult. We've got to find a way."
Speaking last October, Broncos legend Wendell Sailor predicted this exact situation would occur at the Broncos. He said on Triple M radio: "I like Ezra but look, that's big dollars. I was just talking a couple of months ago about paying Reece Walsh a million dollars. So if you're paying him a million dollars, you're paying Payne Haas a million dollars... you're top heavy, something's gotta go."
