Cobbo zips lip to make a strong impression
A BEEFED up Selwyn Cobbo will be unveiled in Saturday’s All Stars exhibition as the Broncos flyer looks to put his Kevin Walters podcast gaffe behind him.
Cobbo has been fined $10,000 by the Broncos – to be donated to charity – after going rogue on a little-known podcast in New Zealand in the off-season.
He said Walters was a “good bloke” but not a good coach and the Broncos had concocted a story that he was suffering fatigue last year to conceal a personal issue.
The 20-year-old has kept a low profile since and been banned from interviews as he looks to get his NRL season preparations on track.
The Queensland Origin weapon will make his first playing appearance of the year when he starts on the wing for the Indigenous team in his second All Stars fixture.
And a new-look Cobbo will take the field in Rotorua alongside Kangaroos superstar Latrell Mitchell following a pre-season transformation.
Cobbo has bulked up from 97kg last year to 103kg and smashed his gym records.
His bench press has increased from 105kg to 170kg and he is squatting 200kg compared with 110kg last year. He is also recording faster running times in testing.
A renowned tackle breaker, Cobbo could be even harder to handle this season and his manager, Tas Bartlett, said the young gun had learned from his podcast mistakes.
“He’s got over it and just wants to get out and play footy now and repay the club and Kevvie,” Bartlett said.
After seven NRL games in his debut season in 2021, Cobbo burst out of the blocks last year. He scored 12 tries in eight matches in a mid-year purple patch to earn a Maroons Origin debut, starting in all three games.