The Mole: Cowboys emerge as favourites to lure 'distracted' Origin star away from Brisbane
Updated . First published
The Broncos salary cap juggle could cost them brilliant outside back Selwyn Cobbo for 2026.
Brisbane has one of the most power-packed rosters in the NRL and with plenty of players seeking upgrades, the cap is set to burst.
The club is paying a fortune to keep mega-star Reece Walsh on board and also wants to extend strong-running centre Kotoni Staggs.
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Cobbo had a poor season by his high standards this year and, as a result, may be the odd man out.
The Cowboys have emerged as favourites to sign the tall Origin strike weapon, who may well need a change in clubs, as he would be an ideal replacement for Valentine Holmes, who is off to the Dragons.
Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo. Getty
Cobbo is signed for next season but not beyond - so rival clubs can formally talk to him for 2026 after November 1 - just a couple of weeks away.
Cobbo was on around $625,000 this season, with his salary set to rise to close to $700,000 in 2025.
His management will want an increase on that if he signs a new deal - money the Broncos will struggle to find under the cap.
The Cowboys don't have the same salary cap pressure and Cobbo's ability to play centre, wing and fullback will appeal to them - as well as several other clubs.
But they also need to weigh up that Cobbo appeared distracted and not at his best in many games in 2024.
He scored just six tries in 19 games as the Broncos crashed out of the finals - a sharp drop from the past two seasons.
In 2023 he bagged 20 tries in 24 games and in 2022 - his first full season in the league - he scored 15 in 18 games.
