Cobbo’s time has arrived
SLATER MUST BLOOD BRONCO IN ORIGIN I
FOR almost half a century, cricket great Greg Chappell has sprouted a simple selection philosophy … “if they are good enough they are old enough.’’
Chappell was talking about his own sport but the mantra of giving exceptional youngsters an early crack extends further than cricket … which brings us to Selwyn Cobbo.
The Broncos Indigenous flyer turns 20 just three days before the first State of Origin match in Sydney on June 8, and coach Billy Slater must decide whether to unleash him in what would be the most keenly awaited Origin debut of recent times.
Most pundits agree Xavier Coates deserves retention on one wing which leaves Cobbo fighting with his Broncos teammate Corey Oates and Cowboys flyer Murray Taulagi for the other spot after another Cowboy, Kyle Feldt, sustained a knee injury on Saturday night.
It’s a fascinating debate because Oates’ form this season could have been no more Origin themed if he had been wearing a maroon jersey.
Not only has he been generally safe under the high ball, his robust surges from dummy half when the Broncos have been pinned near their own line, like a fourwheel drive powering through a muddy creek bed, are just the type of hard yakka efforts that would get a large tick from Slater.
Oates has averaged 161 run metres per game compared Cobbo’s 124m but Cobbo’s form over the past month – the fends, the speed, the pace and power – has been outrageous.
There is a theory Oates should get first dibs but the Origin schedule of matches in Sydney and Perth before the final game in Brisbane means Slater must front-load his game plan.
Queensland must gamble to win in Sydney and Cobbo should be that gamble.
Whatever aces Slater thinks he has up his sleeve should be slapped on the table for the first game. Queensland needs to win one of the first two games to bring the decider to Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland cannot die wondering. There’s not much point bringing in Cobbo for the final game if it’s a dead rubber, lauding his magical ways and wishing you had selected him earlier. Former champion Test fullback Gary Belcher appreciates the delicate nature of the selection debate involving the question how young is too young to blood a player you think could be there for 10 years.
“But the teenagers now are a lot more confident than when I was playing,’’ Belcher said. “They just seem to thrive on that sort of stuff. Cobbo just looks like one of those players where the more on the line, the bigger the occasion, the more he steps up.
“I don’t doubt he’s up to it. With Oates and Coates and Taulagi playing well, I would not be shocked if he didn’t play because he is going to be there long term. You don’t want to start him early and have him suffer an early stumble and it to become a nightmare but he is super confident. If they picked him I would be over the moon and jumping out of my skin to see how he goes.
“His defence also looks really good which is important.’’
Queensland have been looking for clues in how Cobbo might handle the big occasion and found evidence to support Belcher’s claim that he might rise in the spotlight rather than be intimidated by it.
The pressures of professional sport may grind him down eventually but Cobbo is one of the few NRL stars who plays with a smile on his face, and the cavalier way in which he chances his hand has echoes of unshackled backyard brilliance about it.
Youthful minds may not have the wisdom of old sweats but nor do they have the scars of defeat or the fear of the unknown.