Gabba crowds are no strangers to witnessing hat-tricks, but Selwyn Cobbo produced one with a twist to help the Broncos edge the Dolphins in their second instalment of the ‘Battle for Brisbane’.
Known for its bouncy wicket, it was Cobbo and the Broncos who bounced back following a below par performance last weekend in their loss to the Titans, with his last try of the match sealing the 24-16 victory at Queensland's home of cricket.
“I wasn't really thinking about anything,” Cobbo said of his game-turning efforts, which included an incredible try that saw him chase through to collect his own chip-kick to score.
“The tries I scored were all off the back of the boys. It is a team effort.
“I couldn't score those tries without them running the right lines.”
Cobbo, that is outrageous!
Cobbo’s performance was also a turning point in his development as a player according to his coach Kevin Walters, with the winger battling through the pain of a hip pointer injury in recent weeks, an ailment he initially suffered in the opening Origin match last month.
"Selwyn had a terrific game," Walters said.
"We know what Selwyn brings to our footy team. We haven't seen a lot of it this year for different reasons.
"His hip was giving him some grief, but it's the freest he's run on the field and we're just really happy he's on our side.
“The NRL is tough and you’ve got to play injured sometimes.
“He’s still only 21 years of age, so it is all learning for him.
“He has picked it up quickly the last few weeks and I thought it was his best game in a long time for us.”
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However, with Queensland set to name their squad on Monday for Origin III, Walters thought that coach Billy Slater and the Maroons would “stick with what they’ve got” and was hoping to instead see Cobbo continue to improve with the Broncos.
“It is important for Selwyn to keep getting better for us the next seven or eight weeks,” Walters said.
“If we can get that right edge firing in defence and attack, it is a pretty lethal edge.”
For Cobbo, who said it “was good to watch the boys get the win” in Game Two, a recall to the side he helped to claim the opening win of the series wasn't front of mind.
“I was proud of (Reece) Walshy as well and all the Broncs boys,” Cobbo said.
“They did their family and state proud. I've got my whole footy career to play Origin.
“We'll have to wait and see (about an Origin recall). Billy knows what he is doing.”