Selwyn Cobbo’s Future with Brisbane Broncos in Doubt Amid $3.5M Retention Spree
Selwyn Cobbo’s place at the Brisbane Broncos is looking increasingly uncertain after the club confirmed a significant investment to secure the futures of three key players—moves that appear to leave Cobbo on the outer. The Broncos have reportedly committed $3.5 million to retain captain Adam Reynolds, powerhouse centre Kotoni Staggs, and emerging hooker Blake Mozer. The decision highlights Cobbo’s precarious position, particularly given the club’s tight salary cap and its continued hesitation to offer him a new deal.
Currently earning around $650,000 per season, Cobbo is off-contract and has yet to receive a formal offer from the Broncos. The lack of movement on a new deal has raised serious doubts about his future at Red Hill, especially after recent selections suggest the club may be looking beyond the 23-year-old star. His omission from the squad in consecutive games has only fueled speculation that his time in Brisbane may be nearing an end unless he accepts a pay cut.
According to The Courier Mail, Brisbane’s priority has been shoring up the leadership and core of its current roster, with Reynolds, Staggs, and Mozer seen as essential to the club’s plans. Reynolds, the team’s veteran halfback and captain, turned down a more lucrative two-year, $1.5 million offer from the Wests Tigers to remain in Brisbane, opting instead for a one-year extension. Despite the Wests Tigers’ offer exceeding Brisbane’s by $1 million and an additional year, Reynolds prioritized stability for his family and the chance to chase a premiership with the Broncos.
“There were quite a number of clubs that showed interest in ‘Reyno’,” head coach Michael Maguire told The Courier Mail. “Reyno has shown that he wants to stay and achieve what he came to the club to achieve, which is winning a premiership… I have no doubt he can play for another 12 months.”
Staggs, who has emerged as a critical leader under Maguire, also agreed to a three-year extension worth roughly $800,000 annually. After winning the Allan Langer Award last season as Brisbane’s best back, he has continued to impress, both on and off the field. Maguire praised his growth as a player and person, noting Staggs’ increasing influence during team meetings and leadership sessions.
“He has developed a lot as a person and over the last two or three months I’ve seen him step up as a leader,” Maguire said. “He is great in team meetings, he is vocal and is setting the standards of what we want to achieve here.”
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Mozer has secured a two-year extension, even though he is yet to play in 2025 due to a pre-season shoulder injury. Despite limited first-grade experience—just nine games since debuting in 2023—Mozer is highly rated and had been in strong contention for a starting role before his injury setback.
These three signings have made a strong statement about where the Broncos’ priorities lie—and they do not appear to include Cobbo at this stage. The talented outside back, once seen as a long-term cornerstone for the Broncos and a future fullback, has now fallen down the pecking order. His recent omission from Brisbane’s 17 for the second straight game, following a solid showing by replacement Josiah Karapani, has only intensified rumours of a potential exit.
Cobbo’s absence from the lineup has not gone unnoticed, especially after he was left out of the squad that trounced the Titans in Round 14 and remains omitted for the upcoming clash against the Sharks. His fall from favour has come quickly and unexpectedly, considering his prior impact at both club and State of Origin level.
It’s believed that Cobbo’s preference is to play fullback, a position he may not be able to claim in Brisbane, particularly with Reece Walsh cemented as the club’s first-choice No.1. That desire, coupled with the Broncos’ apparent reluctance to meet his financial expectations, could drive Cobbo to explore more lucrative options elsewhere.
Clubs such as the Dragons, Roosters, and Wests Tigers have been linked to the 23-year-old, and interest is expected to intensify in the coming months. If Cobbo does hit the open market, he could reportedly command a salary in the region of $900,000 per year. Expansion franchises like Perth and Papua New Guinea may also be willing to throw big money at a player of his caliber to headline their rosters.
While Cobbo’s camp is said to be actively exploring rival interest, there remains a slim chance he could remain in Brisbane—if he’s willing to accept a one-year extension on a reduced wage. Such a deal might serve as a stop-gap before potentially moving to a new club in 2026, where a fullback role and a much larger paycheck might await.
But time is ticking. The Broncos’ recent financial decisions strongly suggest that they’re investing in players they believe can lead them into a successful new era. With salary cap space dwindling, Cobbo could be the odd man out unless compromises are made on both sides.
For now, his future remains clouded, and unless a resolution is reached soon, Cobbo looks increasingly likely to exit the club that helped launch his NRL career. As rival clubs begin circling, the next few weeks could prove critical in determining where the rising star’s next chapter will unfold.
