Selwyn Cobbo has held secret talks with the Dragons as the Cowboys and a third NRL club plot poaching raids on the out-of-favour Broncos sensation.
This masthead can reveal the ex-Queensland Origin star flew to Sydney for preliminary talks with St George Illawarra bosses earlier this month in the strongest sign yet Cobbo is on the verge of quitting the Broncos.
But the Dragons are not the only club eyeing off Cobbo, with Brisbane’s fierce rivals and 2015 premiership nemesis the Cowboys also weighing up a possible move for the Broncos matchwinner.
Well-placed sources have confirmed the Dragons, Cowboys and a third suitor have expressed interest in the Cherbourg flyer.
But whether they ultimately sign him depends on Cobbo’s asking price.
Cobbo’s preference is to remain at the Broncos, but salary-cap pressures will almost certainly force him out of Red Hill at season’s end.
Broncos chiefs have had dialogue with Cobbo’s management for several months in a bid to navigate Brisbane’s salary-cap minefield and strike a deal that is palatable to both parties.
But the retention of Adam Reynolds, Blake Mozer and Cobbo’s backline partner Kotoni Staggs, the latter to a $2.4 million extension, has all-but exhausted Brisbane’s salary-cap spend.
The Broncos have yet to make an offer for Cobbo ahead of Sunday’s round 16 clash against the Sharks and it’s understood they can only afford around $300,000 to keep him at Red Hill in 2026.
That means the 23-year-old, who is on $650,000, faces a pay cut of around $350,000 to stay at Brisbane, an unlikely scenario given the market interest in one of the code’s most promising backline properties.
Earlier this season, Cobbo was valued at almost $1 million on the open market, but since being dropped to reserve grade a fortnight ago, his price tag has taken a hit.
It’s understood the Dragons won’t break the bank to sign Cobbo and baulked at the potential length of any-long term deal.
But with the club looking to become a finals contender, coach Shane Flanagan needs some backline strike and they are keen on the former Australian Test ace.
The Dragons have Clint Gutherson on their books but realise his days as a fullback will come to an end at some point.
The 30-year-old is contracted for another two seasons, but may be moved to centre should the Dragons find a potent no.1.
The Dragons’ salary cap is in a strong position for them to make a splash if they believe Cobbo is their man.
The Cowboys are also in the frame.
The club is committed to emerging centres Zac Laybutt and Viliami Vailea - they inked two-year extensions a fortnight ago - but believe Cobbo can add depth to their backline stocks with his utility value.
St George Illawarra and North Queensland are open to signing Cobbo at the right price but won’t be getting into a bidding war for his services.
While Cobbo has previously been linked with the Sydney Roosters, it’s understood the Bondi club will not be making a formal play for the tryscoring sensation.
The Broncos have been told that Cobbo has received interest from rival clubs in the vicinity of $700,000-a-season to leave Brisbane.
That is money the Broncos simply cannot match, however the club has a trump card in its location to his hometown.
Like Latrell Mitchell visiting Taree, Cobbo enjoys the solace of soothing trips home to Cherbourg, fuelling a belief the Indigenous role model would struggle to adjust to life in Sydney.
In May, Cobbo’s manager said he was hoping to strike a deal with the Broncos, but insists he is now more mature to cope with a move interstate.
“Selwyn is open to leaving the Broncos,” said his agent Tas Bartlett.
“As an 18-year-old kid, having just left Cherbourg, he would never have entertained leaving the Broncos.
“But he is 23 and he’s not a boy anymore.
“Selwyn has lived out of home for several years and he is now more mature to the thought of leaving the tent if we can’t do a deal with the Broncos.”
After starring in Brisbane’s 42-18 defeat of Canterbury in late April, Cobbo said: “Cherbourg is not going to run away. Wherever I go, I can always go back home.”
Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy remains hopeful of keeping Cobbo.
“All of us would love nothing more than to see him at his absolute best form,” Donaghy said.
Selwyn hasn’t been there of late, but none of us have given up on him.
“We’ll keep working with him to give him all the encouragement and whatever he needs to try and get him back there.
“Selwyn at his peak is only going to help the squad.”
