Broncos veteran Corey Oates believes teammate Selwyn Cobbo has learned a harsh lesson after his podcast comments criticising coach Kevin Walters caused a stir.
The 20-year-old told the ‘Back of the 135’ podcast, he did not think Walters was a good coach despite being a good person and has since sat down with his coach to apologise.
Walters admitted the comments “certainly” hurt and Oates believes players need to avoid podcast situations which can be a “hard environment”.
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“I don’t put myself in those situations,” Oates said.
“We have just got to not get caught in that sort of area… and not get stuck in the media saying things you don’t want to. You learn along the way. It is a harsh environment. You learn the hard way sometimes but so long as you learn from your mistakes, that’s fine.
“If (Cobbo) had asked me if he should have done it I probably would have said ‘no’, but he might feel comfortable doing it. I have never done it unless it is with the club.”
Oates also went into bat for Walters, who has now been spoken about in a negative light by two players from last year’s squad.
Tyson Gamble, who has since joined the Knights, also questioned Walters’ coaching ability and said veteran halfback Adam Reynolds is the “go-to man” for any questions.
“I’ve been here through a lot of things and I think Kevvie is doing a great job, finding out the sort of coach he is and what sort of players he is dealing with,” Oates said.
“It is not easy to do when you have got a team that struggles for so many years.”
Meanwhile, Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis was also asked about Cobbo’s comments and explained the young winger could have breached his player contract.
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“There are two aspects of the matter which I think are of major concern to the Broncos,” Hagipantelis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The employment agreement has clauses (prohibiting) players from saying or doing anything that could bring the club or the game into disrepute.”
In a club statement, Cobbo claimed his comments were “taken out of context” but it was “silly” to speak about his coach in a negative light.
But Hagipantelis isn’t buying it.
“I’ve listened to the broadcast and I can’t fathom for one moment the suggestion that (Cobbo’s) comments were taken out of context,” Hagipantelis said.
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“They were clear and without any ambiguity whatsoever.
“The most concerning aspect is if there is any substance to what he said.
“What’s the response now from the club? Do they have to consider the comments and delve further into the matter?
“It’s not the way you want to start the year.”
Hagipantelis also said players shouldn’t “air their dirty laundry” and if the rising star has issues, he needed to address them internally.
