Broncos’ No.9 quandary finally solved
BILLY Walters has staved off a fierce challenge from Cory Paix to grab the hooking spot as the Broncos warned Penrith they would unleash their version of Greg Inglis at fullback in Friday night’s seasonopening blockbuster.
A fractured eye socket to star fullback recruit Reece Walsh has opened the door for Queensland Origin ace Selwyn Cobbo to wear the No.1 jumper in Brisbane’s daunting road trip to face premiers the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium.
While Cobbo held off Jesse Arthars and Herbie Farnworth for the fullback spot, another key facet of Brisbane’s spine has been decided.
Coach Kevin Walters has opted for his son Billy over Paix to play in the hotly contested No.9 jumper.
Cobbo and Walters will be joined in the playmaking spine by five-eighth Ezra Mam and champion halfback Adam Reynolds, who has been cleared of a lower back injury that wiped him out of the preseason trials.
Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards is the reigning Clive Churchill Medallist after his heroics in last year’s premiership win, but Broncos frontrow import Martin Taupau said fullback rival Cobbo could rip the Panthers apart and likened him to Queensland Origin legend “GI”.
“Selwyn is a phenomenal talent,” said veteran prop Taupau, who will make his Broncos debut off the bench after his off-season move from Manly.
“He and Reece are great talents, they are a bit unorthodox the way they play, but it’s amazing in this day and age, you have to be different to stand out and Selwyn is definitely a standout player for us.
“We are all really excited for Selwyn to wear the No.1 in round 1.
“Just the way he moves, the way he reads the game, both offensively and defensively ... I guess you can say he is in the mould of Greg Inglis. He is a great talent.”
The Broncos will head to the foot of the mountains confident of a first-up boilover after naming a strong squad that includes power on the bench in the form of “Kapow” Taupau, Tom Flegler and Keenan Palasia.