Fullback move on cards for Cobbo
BRISBANE’S man-of-themoment Selwyn Cobbo is ready to answer a fullback SOS from coach Kevin Walters.
Cobbo is on standby for Broncos No.1 Te Maire Martin ahead of Thursday night’s showdown against the Knights in Newcastle.
Martin must pass a fitness test on Wednesday morning after injuring a hip flexor in Brisbane’s 38-0 Magic Round demolition of Manly. He didn’t finish the Sea Eagles game and was on restricted duties at training on Monday.
If Martin is ruled out, Walters is considering shifting the in-form Cobbo to fullback and handing winger Jordan Pereira his Broncos debut.
Cobbo, 19, has scored seven tries in his past four matches, including a scintillating hattrick against Manly that thrust him into the Origin spotlight.
Walters has no concerns about Cobbo handling the extra pressure at fullback, but he could bring in veteran David Mead to replace Martin.
“I’m 90 per cent sure Te Maire will play,” Walters said. “We’re going to check him (on Wednesday) but he is getting better each day. We are pretty confident he will be right.
“We have a couple of options if he doesn’t play. I am split and need to talk with Reyno (Adam Reynolds), Capes (Kurt Capewell) and the other coaches.
“We will either move Cobbo and bring Jordan Pereira on to the wing or we can leave Cobbo where he is and bring David Mead in to play fullback.
“David (knee injury) hasn’t played for five or six weeks but he is very safe and I like the idea of leaving Cobbo where he is with Kotoni (Staggs). I don’t want to complicate his life too much. We will make a decision (on Wednesday).”
If Cobbo replaces Martin, it will be the teenager’s first game at fullback in the NRL.
Cobbo, who has only played 17 first grade games, is viewed as a future No.1 option but the Broncos do not want to rush his development.
After making errors early in the season, Cobbo has found his feet in recent weeks with the resurgent Broncos.
His improved form has coincided with Brisbane’s fourgame winning streak heading into the clash against 14thplaced Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“We have a lot of respect for what they (Knights) are doing,” Walters said after Newcastle snapped a sevengame losing streak with a win against Canterbury.
“You’re only as good as your last game and they had a win. They have some players coming back, which breeds confidence. For us, it’s about maintaining and getting better each week. We won two games and then lost four straight not too long ago.”