Corey Parker's staggering admission about Selwyn Cobbo amid doubts over NRL future at Broncos

Broncos great Corey Parker says he's shocked Brisbane haven't offered Selwyn Cobbo a new deal to remain at the club, amid fears salary cap pressures could force the Origin star to leave. Cobbo and his Broncos centre partner Kotoni Staggs are both off contract at the end of 2025, meaning they will hit the open market on November 1 and be free to speak to rival clubs about a move, unless Brisbane agree on an extension with the players before then.

Coach Kevin Walters previously admitted that Cobbo and Staggs might have to take pay cuts in order to remain at the Broncos, with Reece Walsh on the cusp of signing a new deal worth a reported $6 million - the biggest in club history. But as News Corp reported, the Broncos are yet to make a new offer to extend Cobbo, just six weeks out from the November deadline when he goes on the open market.

Cobbo is understood to be on around $625,000 per season but as Parker pointed out he could realistically command a much bigger salary at a rival club. Broncos bosses are understood to be confident of retaining the services of the Maroons star but Parker says he finds it astounding that the club is yet to offer him a new deal.

“If Selwyn goes to the open market, he can get around $1 million a season. That’s the reality,” Parker said as per the Courier Mail. “If the Broncos haven’t made Cobbo an offer yet, I find that mind-blowing. Clubs tend to forecast their salary caps years in advance and I’m sure the Broncos have been preparing for this.

"They knew this period was coming with Staggs and Selwyn (set to become free agents). The issue for me is how do the Broncos afford to keep Cobbo and Staggs? The Broncos already have guys like Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh and Payne Haas on big-money deals. Often clubs pay on potential... and Selwyn’s potential is untapped.”

There is no doubting Cobbo's ability after he starred for the Broncos in their run to the grand final last season and was one of Queensland's best in their State of Origin Game I victory this year. But Cobbo was a shock withdrawal from Game II due to personal reasons and has had injury setbacks in a patchy season for a disappointing Broncos side that missed out on the finals in 2024.

The Broncos have been very supportive of the 22-year-old and allowed Cobbo to return home and spend time with his family. And Parker admitted he had doubts about how Cobbo would fit in at another club if he does move away from Brisbane - particularly if it's to a Sydney club.

Broncos face Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs 'conundrum'

The Brisbane great said it seems like Cobbo is the sort of player that needs "some stability in his football and life" but was confident there would be a stack of clubs lining up to sign him if the Broncos are unable to keep hold of him. Parker says the Broncos might be forced to make a decision about which one of their star centres to keep hold and described it as a "real conundrum" for the club, with Staggs on a reported $700,000 per season deal.

Cobbo is more versatile than Staggs and can play at fullback or on the wing, as he has done at Origin level. But Staggs definitely had the better season of the two after being one of the Broncos' best performers late in the NRL campaign when they were still battling to try and qualify for the finals.

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Broncos coach Walters will also surely be looking to upgrade a Brisbane forward pack that appears to be lacking real star power outside of rep stars Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan. They've already told up-and-coming youngster Kobe Hetherington he's free to look elsewhere and Walters has admitted that the club needs to find a "compromise" to be able to keep hold of Cobbo and Staggs, with so much of their cap being taken up by the likes of Walsh, Carrigan, Mam and Haas.

"They are both going to demand a lot of money, but what we need to do is find a compromise with both those players where they are staying here and playing in a great side and a great club, and taking a little bit less money possibly, but staying here and being successful," Walters said previously about his star centres. "Kotoni is a Bronco to the bone and so is Selwyn. That's the target, to keep both. That's what I want to do as the coach. It is going to be difficult, but rugby league is difficult. We've got to find a way."