'They don't want him': Gorden Tallis criticises Broncos for 'disrespectful' treatment of Selwyn Cobbo

Broncos great Gorden Tallis has questioned the club's decision to pay two veteran playmakers ahead of club junior Selwyn Cobbo.

Cobbo, 23, was dropped from the NRL for the past two weeks and is without a contract for next season.

The club is facing a salary cap squeeze after last week signing Adam Reynolds, 34, to a one year extension worth around $500,000 and centre Kotoni Staggs on a deal that finishes at the end of the 2028 season and is reported to be worth around the $700,000-a-year mark. The club also locked down young gun hooker Blake Mozer.

READ MORE: Gould backs forgotten man to end long Blues exile

READ MORE: 'Disappointing':Turbo's candid admission over switch

READ MORE: Dragons skipper's telling admission on struggling halves

The Broncos already have Ben Hunt, 35, on their books for next year for a reported $550,000.

It's understood Cobbo, who has played six Origin games for Queensland, is disillusioned with the club's reluctance to commit to him long-term and is thinking about walking away from the game.

Cobbo has reportedly been offered a deal worth around $300,000 to stay at the Broncos, which is a major cut to his current $650,000-per-season deal.

The outside back is now on the radar of Sydney clubs, with the Dolphins said to be hesitant to meet his asking price.

"The Selwyn Cobbo one is a bit funny to me because I think he is the future of the club," Tallis said on Fox Sports.

"They have re-signed Kotoni Staggs. They have got two 35-year-old No.7s that they re-signed as a priority and they re-signed another hooker when they have got five.

"Then they have got this young talent and they leave $300,000, which I think is a little bit disrespectful for a State of Origin player and I don't think he has lost that much mojo.

"In my opinion when Reece Walsh was out and he went back to fullback, he kept them in a few of those games, but obviously they don't want him."

While he's not feeling much love in the Sunshine State, there is interest in Cobbo south of the border.

During the Broncos' bye week Cobbo reportedly met with Dragons officials in Wollongong.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

The Saints are said to be front-runners to sign him and will look to slot him into the fullback role once Clint Gutherson retires.

St George Illawarra is reportedly keen to move quickly to secure Cobbo, with less than a week remaining before the June 30 deadline.

The club has reportedly discussed giving Tyrell Sloan permission to speak with rival clubs before his $500,000-a-season deal expires at the end of 2026.

While Tallis believes Cobbo is worth more than what the Broncos are willing to pay, he also underlined the club's strategy in developing Coby Black at halfback, who led the Maroons to victory in the under 19s Origin last week.

"It's nothing against the two 35-year-old halfbacks, but the future of the club are not two 35-year-old halfbacks," Tallis said.

"Queensland won the State of Origin (U19s) with a young 19-year-old halfback that could sit there and get some experience.

"It is better getting a taste and you look at the Roosters with their young halves, there is no better way to learn than at the coalface."