Broncos ace the centre of attention
Queensland coach Billy Slater believes Selwyn Cobbo can become a champion centre as the Broncos ace turns up the heat on Maroons incumbents Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Cobbo destroyed the Dolphins in last week’s Battle of Brisbane and Slater will be watching the Broncos’ new left centre closely in Saturday night’s clash with Canberra at Suncorp Stadium.
Holmes and Tabuai-Fidow played all three games for the Maroons last season, but with the ‘Hammer’ tearing his hamstring against the Broncos last week, the door is ajar for Brisbane’s man-of-themoment Cobbo.
Buoyed by his two-try Dolphins demolition, Cobbo is primed for a duel with Raiders hulk Matt Timoko and Slater confirmed the Cherbourg sensation is firmly in the mix for Origin I on June 5.
Slater played with some of the code’s great centres, including Queensland Origin legend Greg Inglis, and believes Cobbo can find another gear following his move infield from the wing.
“I really feel that centre can be his position moving forward,” Slater said.
“I think of some of the great centres over the years, they have had that athleticism, the size and the power and they are good defensively.
“Being a great centre can be a real goal for Selwyn and I think he is starting to lead the Broncos as well.
“He was the best player on the field against the Dolphins.
“It was good to see that leadership because Selwyn is a good person. He is representing his people of Cherbourg and he has done a great job in the past for Queensland as well.”
Underlining his faith in Cobbo, Slater handed the Broncos flyer his Origin debut, three days after his 20th birthday, for Game One of the 2022 series.
Cobbo was retained for last year’s series opener, only to be overlooked for Origin II after battling a hip injury.
Cobbo has amassed 948 running metres and 34 tackle busts in his first six games in the Broncos left-centre position made famous by his Indigenous mentor, Brisbane legend Steve Renouf.