Selwyn Cobbo needs to remain a core part of the club’s premiership tilt, Brisbane Broncos star Kotoni Staggs has declared, as his under-siege teammate fights to save his career at Red Hill.
Staggs celebrated signing a new three-year deal by engaging in an enthralling battle with Cronulla centre Sifa Talakai – running for four linebreaks, 10 tackle busts and 203 metres in a 34-28 triumph – on Sunday afternoon.
The win featured a 16-point second-half comeback as Broncos displayed a newfound resilience, which the 26-year-old believed typified why he extended his stay.
Brisbane Broncos centres Kotoni Staggs (left) has declared Selwyn Cobbo (right) must remain a part of the club’s plans.Credit: NRL Photos
“I didn’t want to leave,” Staggs said. “Early on, when I knew I was coming off contract, I did have a look around, but I just went back to my family and partner, had a yarn and said this is where I belong.
“This is home for me. I’ve loved every minute of it, and the bunch of boys I’ve made friends with for life, and the brotherhood, I just couldn’t leave.
“There’s a lot of outside noise that said we wouldn’t make the top eight, we weren’t a finals team, and this just puts it all back on them. The more they hate on us, it feeds us.”
As the one-time State of Origin ace did the grunt work getting his team out of their own end on Sunday, the left edge ignited, with Gehamat Shibasaki and Josiah Karapani scoring doubles in a 16-point comeback.
The form of the previously unheralded try-scoring pair triggered Cobbo’s shock axing three weeks ago, and also kept Deine Mariner in the Queensland Cup.
Cobbo lined up for Wynnum Manly on Saturday, scoring a try and running for 115 metres, with a linebreak and three tackle busts from the wing.
However, he was ultimately upstaged by Seagulls and Broncos teammate Delouise Hoeter as the veteran finished with a hat-trick, two try assists, two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, eight tackle busts and 104 running metres.
Mariner also gave his hopes of an NRL comeback a boost, scoring a try and coming up with two try assists, two linebreak assists, four tackle busts and 186 metres for Burleigh.
Cobbo, who remains unsigned beyond this year, has reportedly attracted plenty of interest from rival outfits, with Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy confirming on Triple M the two parties were “a fair way apart” in negotiations.
His versatility – having starred at fullback while Reece Walsh recovered from a knee injury – is likely to draw offers Brisbane cannot match, after Staggs was joined by Adam Reynolds and Blake Mozer in re-signing last week.
Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Ezra Mam and Pat Carrigan are among those already locked on lucrative deals.
But Staggs was adamant Cobbo must remain in the Broncos’ long and short-term plans, with next week’s clash against the New Zealand Warriors to be a test of their premiership credentials.
“Selly is one of my good mates, and I’ve played with him for a long time. He’s been on my wing as well, and we’ve built a very good connection there,” Staggs said.
“I believe in him. He’s one of those players who can turn the game around, so I would love him to stay and be here with us.
“I think Selly’s in our top 17 for sure, he’s one of those players who can turn anything into something. Whatever we decide what team to go with against the Warriors, that’s up to Madge [coach Michael Maguire], but I do think he’s in our best 17.
“I would love to see him stay, but at the end of the day, he’s got to do what’s best for himself and his family.”
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