Selwyn Cobbo Emerges as Likely Replacement for Injured Reece Walsh at Fullback
A leading candidate has surfaced to fill the void left by Reece Walsh’s injury, with Selwyn Cobbo shaping up as the frontrunner to don the Brisbane Broncos’ No.1 jersey.
League icon Andrew Johns has criticised the Broncos for failing to utilise Payne Haas effectively during their narrow golden-point loss to the Warriors. Meanwhile, Brisbane has been dealt a significant blow with scans confirming that star fullback Reece Walsh will be out for 4-6 weeks due to a knee injury sustained in Saturday night’s 20-18 defeat.
Walsh suffered a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury in his right knee following a heavy tackle by Kurt Capewell early in the game. Despite the injury, he played on, even switching to the wing at times as Cobbo covered fullback. Walsh’s absence not only sidelines him physically but also removes him from contention for Queensland’s State of Origin opener.
Coach Michael Maguire is expected to lean on Cobbo to fill the fullback role in the coming rounds. The Broncos will have just one major training session—Wednesday’s captain’s run—before their Thursday night showdown with top-of-the-table Canterbury.
Cobbo has limited experience at fullback, having only started two NRL games in the position—both 13-12 victories over Penrith and Manly in 2023. While he’s stepped into the role during games before, the Broncos have usually relied on Tristan Sailor as a more traditional fullback option. Jesse Arthars has also impressed at fullback in representative matches but has never started an NRL game in that role.
Despite his relative inexperience, Cobbo’s physical attributes—standing 190cm tall and weighing 102kg—make him a dangerous and dynamic fullback option, drawing comparisons to stars like Greg Inglis and Latrell Mitchell. While he lacks Walsh’s speed and stamina, his sheer power and presence are expected to pose serious problems for the Bulldogs’ defense.
However, defensive organisation may be a challenge for Cobbo, and Maguire admitted after the Warriors loss that he’s still determining his best spine combination. The match finished with Billy Walters at five-eighth and Ben Hunt at hooker, a likely scenario again once Ezra Mam returns in Round 10.
Speaking on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Andrew Johns emphasized Mam’s importance to the Broncos’ setup. “Mam is the perfect halves partner for Reynolds,” Johns said. “Reynolds and Hunt are similar types, so you need a running threat. Right now, there isn’t one—and Mam brings that dimension.”
