Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo will not play in Thursday’s must-win clash with the Eels, with coach Kevin Walters revealing the 19-year-old is “tired” and asked to sit out.
It comes after Cobbo was reported to be training with the Broncos’ reserves and Jordan Peirera had taken his place on the wing.
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Walters spoke to the media on Tuesday to clarify that Cobbo had not been abandoned; instead, he will be rested after raising his concerns with the coach this week.
“He’s a little tired,” Walters said.
“He came and saw me earlier in the week and thought he could go a bit faster than he has, but he’s not right to go, so we’ll put Jordan Peirera on.
“He will play, he has done a good job for us when he has come into the side at different times of the year. He’s very itchy and hungry to get out, so that’s good news.”
Asked if there were any disciplinary issues behind Cobbo’s absence, Walters said: “No, nothing. He’s just tired.
“He’s a young guy, he’s had a great season with Origin and the like. He should be fit for next week against the Dragons, but we’ll give him a spell this week and get him fit for next week,” he added.
Kent’s notice to the “entertainer” | 03:57
Cobbo has enjoyed a breakout season that has included 17 games for the Broncos and a home state debut. But he has also battled concussion issues after suffering a sickening head knock in Origin III.
The tall winger missed a month of football before returning to the Broncos in round 21.
Walters confirmed that Cobbo’s layoff has nothing to do with a concussion, reiterating that “he’s really tired, he’s a young guy and, like I said, he’s had a great season … he’s just a little tired “.
“It shows how honest Selwyn is with himself and the club, so it’s a great call, but those calls have to be made,” Walters added.
The Broncos are eighth and need to win their final two games to secure a finals place, but even so, Walters said it was not a difficult decision to leave Cobbo out of Thursday’s game against the fifth-placed Eels.
“We always have our players’ interests at heart and what’s best for the player,” he said.
“He just hasn’t been where he needed to be this week so we’re going to leave him out and give him a spell.”
Continue reading all the initial mail before round 24.
THURSDAY
Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT
Team Broncos: 1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 19. Jordan Pereira 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 15 Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 16. Corey Jensen 21. Keenan Palasia 22. Zac Hosking 18. Delouise Hoeter 20. Tyson Gamble
Players cut: 5. Selwyn Cobbo 13. Ryan James 17. Rhys Kennedy
Advance mail:Extreme star Selwyn Cobbo will not play after manager Kevin Walters revealed Wednesday that he is “a little tired” and will rest. Jordan Pereira will replace it. Ryan James is also out due to a broken finger with Keenan Palasia to replace it. Walters also revealed that Kurt Capewell is “good to go” after sustaining an injury last week, while Zac Hosking will replace Rhys Kennedy on the bench because he is a “specialty player” and the team needed “balance”.
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paul 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali ‘i 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Jacob Arthur 16. Oregon Caucasus 17. Martha Niukore 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Bailey Simonsson 20. Bryce Cartwright 21. Sean Russell 22. Ky Rodwell
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
Luai ready to return soon from injury | 01:04
FRIDAY
Penrith Panthers vs Warriors at BlueBet Stadium, 6pm AEDT
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan 3 May. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Charlie Staines 18. Sunia Turuva 19. J’maine Hopgood 20. Chris Smith 21. Kurt Falls 22. Lindsay Smith
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
Warriors Team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Marcelo Montoya 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 12 Josh Curran 16. Eliesa Katoa 13. Bunty Afoa 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Dunamis Lui 17. Tom Ale 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Adam Pompey 20. Rocco Berry 22. Daejarn Asi 23. Taniela Otukoi 24. Jackson Frere
Players cut: 11. Euan Aitken
Advance mail: Second rower Eun Aitken has been ruled out for personal reasons, with All Eliesa to begin with Ben Murdoch-Masila reaching the bench, while Jackson Frei has been added to reserves.
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park Park, 7.55pm AEDT
Team Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Young Tonumaipea 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Brandon Smith 14. Chris Lewis 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Josh King 18. Alec MacDonald 19. Trent Loiero 20. William Warbrick 21. Cooper Johns 22. Marion Seve
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suali 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Lindsay Collins 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Terrell May 20 Siua Wong 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Oliver Gildart
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
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Tamou lowers the charge of contrary conduct | 00:45
SATURDAY
Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium, 3pm AEDT
Raiders team: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. James Schiller 19. Ata Mariota 20. Matt Frawley 21. Trey Mooney 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tolutau Koula 2. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atumole 12. Andrew Davey 13. Dylan Walker 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau 17. Kurt De Luis 18. Ethan Bullemor 19. Kaeo Weekes 20. James Romanos 21. Jamie Humphreys 22. Jacob Sykes
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm AEDT
Sharks team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Matt Ikuvalu 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Britain’s Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane 14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInnes 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Jesse Colquhoun 20. Franklin Pele 21. Kayal Iro 22. Luke Metcalf
Players cut:
Advance mail:To come.
Bulldogs Team: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Luke Thompson 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Joe Stimson 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Chris Patolo 19. Declan Casey 20. Bailey Biondi-Odo 21. Jackson Topine 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Jeral Skelton
Players cut:
Advance mail:To come.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys at Accor Stadium, 7.35pm AEDT
Rabbitohs Team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaac Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Elias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow Cameron Murray 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Silver Havili 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Tane Milne 20. Davvy Moale 21. Jed Cartwright 22. Michael Chee Kam
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
Cowboy Team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremia Nana. 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Tom Gilbert 15. Coen Hess 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Tomas Chester 20. Jake Granville 21. Riley Price 22. Ben Condon
Players cut:
Advance mail: To come.
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Tamou lowers the charge of contrary conduct | 00:45
SUNDAY
Wests Tigers vs St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, 2pm AEDT
Team Tigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford Toa 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Pauga 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Thomas Freebairn 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Kelma Tuilagi Famanu Brown 14. Fonua Pole 15. Austin Dias 16. Jacob Liddle 17. Gideon Kautoga 18. Justin Matamua 19. Tyrone Peachey 20. James Roberts 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Brandon Tumeth
Players…