Broncos prop Corey Jensen has backed Selwyn Cobbo to thrive in the absence of injured fullback Reece Walsh, as the club seek to overturn two poor defeats against the NRL’s most in-form outfit.
Walsh battled through a knee issue in Brisbane’s golden point defeat to the Warriors on Saturday, before news emerged he was expected to miss the next four to six weeks with a PCL concern.
Cobbo has been moved to the No.1 jumper, in a ploy that could announce his credentials as the next high-profile recruitment target. He remains uncontracted beyond this year, and fullbacks have become among the highest-paid players in the game.
Selwyn Cobbo will line up at fullback for the Broncos in the absence of Reece Walsh.Credit: Getty Images
Jensen, who pleaded for Cobbo to see the pathway to success being built under coach Michael Maguire, believed the 22-year-old would bring a different style to Walsh, but had the tools to flourish against the undefeated Bulldogs on Thursday night.
“He’s a different kind of player to Reecey, but he has his own attributes he will bring to the team, and we have full confidence he can step in there,” Jensen said.
“There are a lot more smaller fullbacks, but there’s a place there for the bigger, mobile fullback. He’s got a really strong running game, so we expect him to get involved a lot there on Thursday night.”
Despite averaging 131 running metres and nearly four tackle busts a game on the wing this year, Cobbo will need to find a new gear against the Bulldogs.
The ladder-leaders have conceded just 58 points in their six clashes, with the next best being the Dragons (118).
But Cobbo’s stronger frame could present a more daunting task in one-on-one situations and supporting through the middle of the field.
Cobbo has started in the role just twice, both wins with 377 total running metres, while he shifted there against Penrith last year when Walsh was taken out in the opening minutes, making 167 metres and seven tackle busts.
Walsh has been under heavy scrutiny this year, having seemingly failed to live up to the heights he set himself in 2023 when he became Queensland’s No.1.
While Maguire has been quick to point out the defensive and positional improvements Walsh has made, he still leads the competition for errors (15) and has lacked the highlight-reel moments that steered Brisbane to their last grand final.
However, Broncos star Pat Carrigan believed time on the sidelines could be what rejuvenates Walsh for the rest of the campaign.
“You don’t want injuries, so I don’t think you want to be in that position. It can be a positive and give you a chance to look at some footy and work on different things, but a lot of the good things we’ve been doing have come off the back of him,” Carrigan said.
“I had a break, a longer one, in 2021 with an ACL and it helped refresh and rejuvenate me.
“If you can take the positives out of it and get better in a little way I’m sure he’ll be fresh and ready to go when he comes back.”
