LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Selwyn Cobbo recently faced a challenging moment after being dropped by Broncos coach Michael Maguire for the team's significant victory over the Gold Coast Titans during Adam Reynolds' milestone 300th game.
This match was crucial for Cobbo as he aimed to regain consideration for the Maroons' squad ahead of Origin Game 2 in Perth on June 18.
Despite a reason to feel dejected, Cobbo opted to show solidarity with his veteran teammate Reynolds, who celebrated a special occasion with family.
Instead of hiding away from the spotlight, Cobbo assisted with warm-up drills before the game at Suncorp Stadium and appeared to take his demotion in stride.
Maguire explained the decision to replace Cobbo with Josiah Karapani, who proved his worth on the field with two tries.
"As a group, and as a leadership group and as a coach, we're pushing standards here and expectations in how we're doing things," said Maguire.
He noted that Karapani's consistent performance throughout the pre-season warranted the opportunity.
"When he has played, he's played really well," the coach added.
Karapani's impressive performance, featuring 15 runs for 176 meters and two line breaks, has complicated Cobbo's prospects, especially considering he is off-contract at season's end.
While the Broncos have not made a formal offer to Cobbo and are prioritizing the re-signing of center Kotoni Staggs, Maguire emphasized that Cobbo could "definitely" return to the lineup but hinted that he may have to spend some time in reserve grade in the short term.
With Karapani establishing himself in the starting lineup, Cobbo's future with the Broncos is uncertain, as he may find it increasingly difficult to earn his way back into the first team.