Back-up plan: Cobbo primed for unique role off the bench

When it comes to Origin, most players say they are willing to play wherever the coach puts them but for Selwyn Cobbo, this will be his reality after being picked on the bench for Queensland.

Maroons coach Billy Slater wasn’t sharing his exact plan on how he expected to deploy versatile back – who has the ability to play fullback, wing and centre – but he did open up on the role the Broncos star could fill for the side after watching an intriguing trend over the last two Origin series.

“Four of the last six Origin games, we've had to replace an outside back, so certainly (he is there as) a bit of cover, but at the same time, Selwyn can play various positions; we might even create one for him, who knows?” Slater said.

“We'll build that plan as the week goes on. But he's a wonderful player and we've only seen the surface of what Selwyn can do and I'm really excited to have him back in the team.

“He’s a big lad, he's very capable; played a fair bit of centre this year, played on the wing for Queensland.

“We saw what he did two weeks ago when he played fullback. We'll build what's best for the team, but that might be taken out of our hands.

“Like I said, four of the last six Origin games, we've had to replace an outside back, so if that happens again, Selwyn's a wonderful player to be on the bench, isn’t he?”

Cobbo himself has been one of the reasons Slater has looked into this option, playing just two minutes of Game Three in 2022 before friendly fire from his teammate knocked him out, leaving the Maroons to reshuffle a team that featured a bench of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant, Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert.

While the move initially raised eyebrows when the team was announced on Monday, with the Broncos star’s only senior experience as an interchange player coming in 2022 for the Indigenous All Stars, Cobbo’s past life playing as a lock in the junior ranks will no doubt come in handy as well.

There's also a possibility of unleashing him in a roving role famously performed by Kalyn Ponga in his 2018 debut.

“I’ll slot anywhere, wherever the team needs me,” Cobbo said.

“I have just got to do what's best for the team. If Billy wants me there, I'll to play middle. I played at lock growing up and that's something I'm not afraid of.

“(It’s good to be) in the middle around the action; you get a lot of ball … I guess that's why I loved playing lock growing up. I think you do whatever you are asked; if Billy wants me there, I'll just have to do it.”

The Cherbourg Hornets junior admitted his switch from wing to the centres for Brisbane this year had cast some doubt over his potential inclusion in the side, having missed the final two games of the series for Queensland last year.

“I'm pretty grateful to be here, I didn't expect it to be called up and be in the squad again now that I am playing in a different position at Broncos,” Cobbo said.

“I never knew if I could make the team or not, but I'm so happy to be here.

“Wherever Billy plays me, I'll do the team proud and, the state proud.

“It's doing my job for the team and I will just try and do my role.”

His Broncos and Maroons teammate Reece Walsh also backed Cobbo to slot into whatever role fashioned by Slater and also cheekily suggested his good friend might force him into a career change himself as well.  

“I was saying on the weekend I was scared I might have to go and get a job with my old man because he might take my position (of fullback). He’s a freaky man,” Walsh said.

“He just wants to play footy and he’ll go out there and play wherever he needs to play and put his body wherever he needs to put it.

“He’s an ultimate player, he’s an awesome player and I’m stoked to have him in my club land team and stoked to pull on the Maroons jersey with him again.

"I know my old man is looking for a labourer, so if the time comes where Cobbo pushes me out of fullback and I have to go and get a real job, then I’ll do that.”