Cobbo relishing chance for more involvement filling in at fullback

Set to feature in the fullback role for the Broncos for the foreseeable future, Selwyn Cobbo said he feels no greater pressure or responsibility filling in for Reece Walsh.

Cobbo was in fine form in just his third time playing in the position in the NRL, making 138 metres and helping to set up a try in Brisbane’s statement win over the Bulldogs, saying he enjoyed the opportunity to be more involved with the play.

“It's the next man-up mindset,” Cobbo said.

“I just love putting on any jersey and going out there and playing beside the boys and having fun as well. I am super proud of the boys.

“It's not really a big responsibility. I just take it as another game and just have to do my job and do what's best for the team and get everyone sorted in the ‘d’ line and do my carries and just play my game.

“I just love being around the action, not on the wing. I like being around the middle and I feel more free with the ball. I can get thrown the ball at any time. I get involved more.

“That's what I love doing, getting involved.”

With the emergence of more smaller-framed fullbacks finding success in the NRL in recent seasons like Storm stalwart Ryan Papenhuyzen and in the early rounds of this year Rabbitohs pocket rocket Jye Gray, there had been some questions asked about Cobbo’s suitability to move into the role, which he answered emphatically with his performance.

However, Cobbo said he had been working on his fitness which was helping in the long run.

“I have been watching what I've been eating and doing extra conditioning to get more metres in games and do more work for the team,” Cobbo said.

“Whichever position I play, I'm happy with that.”

As well as filling in at the back, Cobbo also stepped up to take on goal kicking duties with skipper Adam Reynolds hampered by a shoulder injury that eventually saw him leave the field early.

His first time kicking goals since his debut season in 2021, Cobbo was on target, slotting two conversions and a penalty goal, saying it reminded him of being a kid back in his community of Cherbourg.

“They told me during the week that I might have to do some goalkicking,” Cobbo said.

“Reyno went down and I had to step up. It took me back to my childhood days when I used to kick goals back in Cherbourg and it pays off.”

In great form for the Broncos and showing his versatility, Cobbo is again in line to called up into Billy Slater’s Maroons squad which is only a few weeks away from being named.

“If I get the call up, I would love to put on the jersey again, but I just have to wait and see,” Cobbo said.

“For now, I just have to worry about the Broncos and how we are going.”