Broncos culture again in question
THE Broncos have rubbished suggestions they have a toxic culture after young gun Selwyn Cobbo became the latest Brisbane player to express remorse over an off-field indiscretion.
Broncos teammate Keenan Palasia has revealed Cobbo apologised to the entire playing group on Tuesday morning following his appearance in a Queensland court on Monday on road offences.
The 19-year-old was charged with driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle while on a suspended licence, with the Broncos informing the NRL Integrity Unit of the offence when it occurred a fortnight ago.
Cobbo, who has been disqualified from driving for six months and fined $700 with no conviction recorded, returned to Broncos training on Tuesday to prepare for Friday’s Magic Round clash against Manly at Suncorp Stadium.
The Cobbo saga was Brisbane’s 13th off-field incident in the past three years – the worst behavioural record of any club in the league.
Three other Broncos – Payne Haas, Tesi Niu and TC Robati – have previously appeared in court in relation to driving offences, with Niu having amassed 18 demerit points by the age of 19.
Palasia launched a passionate defence of the Broncos, whose culture came under the spotlight last month when Haas and Albert Kelly were embroiled in the ‘Shoe-gate scuffle’ that saw the duo fined and suspended by the NRL.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a culture problem at all,” Palasia said.
“We were getting told there’s a culture problem the last few seasons when we were losing, now we are winning, so I don’t think there’s a culture problem.”
Referencing the Haas-Kelly altercation, Palasia added: “Everyone who has siblings fights with their siblings and we’re just like brothers.
“We see each other here every day and sometimes things get a bit heated, but there’s no culture problems.
“I wouldn’t say it (the Cobbo incident) is a distraction, maybe for the individual, but not for the team.
“As long as that individual is putting his best foot forward, that’s all we care about.”
The driving incident marred a superb performance from Cobbo, who scored two tries last Thursday night to inspire Brisbane’s 32-12 defeat of Souths in Sydney.
The teenage whiz-kid trained strongly on Tuesday at Red Hill and Palasia is confident Cobbo will not step out of line again as the Indigenous flyer marches towards NRL stardom.
“Selwyn has apologised,” Palasia said.
“He came and spoke to Kev (Walters, Broncos coach).
“As far as I know, he wasn’t at training (on Monday) and then Kev let us know why. The club has dealt with that. He knows he has made a mistake and I’m sure he won’t do it again.
“Selwyn would have learnt from that. He isn’t dumb, he knows what he has done and what he has to do to fix it.”
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy insists the playing group has respect for Queensland’s road laws.
“Selwyn has acknowledged to the club that he made an error in judgment,” he said.