BRONCOS UP THE ANTE IN THEIR BID TO KEEP COBBO

A MULTI-MILLION dollar poaching war has erupted over Selwyn Cobbo, with the Broncos vowing to stave off a raid from the Dolphins for Brisbane’s version of Latrell Mitchell.

The Broncos will head to the negotiating table with Cobbo’s management in the coming weeks to thrash out a $1m-plus contract extension for the boom teenager.

The 100kg flyer can flex his muscle as one of the code’s hottest backline properties when he makes his senior representative debut for the Indigenous All Stars in Friday’s clash against their Maori rivals in Sydney.

Cobbo was so brilliant in his rookie season last year the Cherbourg sensation has piqued the interest of five clubs, including the Redcliffe-based Dolphins, who will become the NRL’S 17th franchise in 2023.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has a huge opinion of Cobbo, prompting club recruitment chief Peter O’sullivan to formally express interest in the Queensland Origin hopeful before Christmas.

Cobbo, 19, is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2023, meaning the Dolphins cannot table an offer until November 1. The Broncos will move quickly to keep the young gun at Red Hill for the long haul.

The Dolphins have already snared Brisbane winger Jamayne Isaako and are eyeing English centre Herbie Farnworth, but Broncos football chief Ben Ikin said the club wanted to lock up Cobbo long-term. “Selwyn is contracted to the Broncos for another two years,” Ikin said.

“He has been in our system for a long time and we think really highly of him. We’d love for him to stay long-term so when the time is right we will enter negotiations in an attempt to keep him at the club.”

That time is fast approaching, with Cobbo’s manager Tas Bartlett holding multiple meetings with the Dolphins in recent months as Bennett looks to set up a long-term vision for the NRL’S newest club.

Bartlett said he was ready to open contract talks with the Broncos ahead of the 2022 NRL premiership kicking off next month.

“Wayne Bennett is a fan of Selwyn, but he isn’t available for two years so hopefully the Broncos can upgrade him and extend him sooner rather than later,” he said.

“I had a meeting with the Dolphins in November to gauge their interest. They were very keen to know Selwyn’s plans and I said he was very happy at the Broncos and hopefully they want to retain him and we’ll see how it plays out.

“The Dolphins are a genuine option, Selwyn played in that region as a junior. I’ve left negotiations until the end of pre-season and that time is fast approaching. I’ll look to catch up with the Broncos next month.

“It’s a huge year for Selwyn. This is his first proper pre-season and in terms of football IQ, he is still quite young.”