Gorden Tallis Slams Broncos for ‘Disrespectful’ Treatment of Selwyn Cobbo: ‘They Don’t Value Him’

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis has raised concerns over the club’s choice to prioritise contracts for two seasoned playmakers instead of supporting homegrown talent Selwyn Cobbo.

At just 23 years old, Cobbo has been sidelined from the NRL for the past fortnight and currently lacks a contract for the upcoming season.

The Broncos are grappling with a salary cap crunch after last week’s decision to extend Adam Reynolds’ contract, worth approximately $500,000, for another year, alongside re-signing centre Kotoni Staggs with a reported deal nearing $700,000 annually, which runs until the end of the 2028 season. Additionally, the club has secured promising young hooker Blake Mozer.

Moreover, the Broncos have veteran Ben Hunt, who is 35, locked in for next year on an estimated $550,000 deal.

Reports suggest that Cobbo is feeling disheartened by the club’s reluctance to offer him a long-term deal and is contemplating stepping back from professional football altogether.

Despite Cobbo’s existing contract being valued at $650,000 per season, he has been offered a substantially reduced deal of around $300,000 to remain at the Broncos.

With his future uncertain at the Broncos, Cobbo has begun attracting attention from Sydney clubs, although the Dolphins are reportedly hesitant to meet his contract demands.

“I find the situation with Selwyn Cobbo a bit puzzling because I believe he represents the future of the club,” Tallis remarked on Fox Sports.

“The Broncos have re-signed Kotoni Staggs, yet they’ve prioritised two 35-year-old halves while also extending another hooker even though they have five in their ranks. It seems disrespectful to offer just $300,000 to a State of Origin player; in my view, he hasn’t lost any of his spark.”

“When Reece Walsh was unavailable and Cobbo returned to fullback, he played a crucial role in keeping them competitive, so clearly, there’s a lack of interest in him,” he continued.

While things may seem bleak in Queensland, clubs south of the border are keenly interested in Cobbo’s services. Reports suggest that he met with officials from the Dragons during the Broncos’ recent bye week.

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The Dragons are reportedly leading the race to secure Cobbo’s signature, aiming to position him as their fullback once Clint Gutherson hangs up his boots.

St George Illawarra is said to be eager to act quickly in their pursuit of Cobbo, particularly with just days remaining before the June 30 deadline.

There have also been discussions around granting Tyrell Sloan the opportunity to explore options with other clubs as his current deal, worth $500,000 per season, runs until the end of 2026.

While Tallis believes Cobbo deserves a better offer than what the Broncos are proposing, he also acknowledged the club’s efforts in developing young talent like Coby Black, who impressed by leading the Maroons to victory in the recent under-19s Origin.

“It’s not a criticism of the two 35-year-old halves, but moving forward, the future of the club is not reliant on them,” Tallis stated.

“Queensland triumphed in the under-19s State of Origin with a promising 19-year-old halfback who could gain vital experience. You only learn by being in the thick of it, much like how the Roosters have nurtured their young halves.”