Source :- THE AGE NEWS
There was a time when it seemed Selwyn Cobbo would become one of rugby league’s most wasted talents, as he languished in Broncos exile and struggled to tap into his potential.
But his arrival at the Dolphins has coincided with one of the NRL’s greatest transformations.
In game two, Cobbo produced one of the most emphatic performances by a winger in State of Origin history to keep the Queensland Maroons’ series alive – scoring three tries and running for 199 metres, with three linebreaks and seven tackle busts.
“I’ve not seen a winger play like that before in Origin, he was very impressive,” Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth gushed.
For those who have watched him daily, the 24-year-old’s exploits came as no surprise.
“You get what you deserve in our game,” Queensland coach Billy Slater said, “and Selwyn is getting what he deserves.”
The signs of life
Cobbo made the move to the Dolphins in need of a career rejuvenation, having fought hamstring issues and a stint in reserve grade to ultimately be left out of Brisbane’s miracle premiership run.
While his talent was undeniable, his work ethic was lacking and his mental fortitude was in question, as he was often given time away from Broncos HQ to refresh.
After Christmas, there were signs a new day was dawning.
Cobbo cut a significantly leaner figure, said to be 8 kilograms lighter, as he set about forging a lethal left-edge union with Farnworth.
“Anyone who knows him knows he is a pretty happy guy, but he’s probably a bit more serious about his footy,” said Farnworth, who featured in the 2023 grand final for Brisbane alongside Cobbo.
“In the pre-season, he showed up really fit, and he’s carried on that hard work.
“He’s working on his days off too and after sessions, and it’s shown on game day.”
One criticism of Cobbo at the Broncos was his tendency to drift in and out of games. At times, he would look like one of the NRL’s most game-breaking players. At others, he appeared unwilling to produce the grind work of the modern-day winger.
That has changed under Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf.
While Woolf’s side suffered an opening-round defeat to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Cobbo’s work coming out of his own end kept them in the hunt.
He finished with 155 running metres that day, largely all coming out of his end. Only twice since has he run for fewer metres.
“I’ve been really proud of Selwyn all year. He’s been great since he’s been here at this club – in every way,” Woolf said.
“He fits in really well, and I think you can see how much he’s enjoying his footy by the way he’s playing.
“He’s done the work and had the consistency to make himself that way. We’ve seen when blokes are happy and enjoying what they’re doing, they seem to play their best.”
The redemption completion
Cobbo entered Queensland’s game two camp after arguably his most dominant NRL performances – scoring twice and running for 320 metres, with nine tackle busts, in a 40-14 triumph of the Cowboys.
Perhaps most remarkably, he registered just one linebreak.
“I think everyone knows his ability and what he’s capable of, so it was just a matter of him finding the enjoyment for the game again and getting fit,” Dolphins forward Connelly Lemuelu said.
“Within our group, we’ve always seen him come out and do the hard work and the tough carries out of the back field, and we’ve seen from his form in the last month or two that he’s added that extra oomph.
“Maybe there’s something in the water he’s drinking at home.”
With the Maroons’ 44-24 demolition of New South Wales in Melbourne, Cobbo’s redemption arc was complete.
Slater lauded the hat-trick hero as the man who “triggered” the state’s second-half fightback. He will now return to the Dolphins’ fold for Saturday’s clash with the Warriors.
Cobbo has long been eager to steer clear of the spotlight, with the Cherbourg product preferring to accept the plaudits of his teammates rather than the public eye.
One theory to explain his meteoric resurgence having left the Broncos is that he performs better without the scrutiny and media attention that follows every member of the glamour club.
But Farnworth said the Dolphins didn’t hold back on scrutinising how they played.
“We’re very harsh on the way we play,” he said. “Maybe it helps a little bit less with the media getting involved, but I’d like to think the Broncos wouldn’t be listening too much to the media, and same for us here.”
The future
Cobbo inked a one-year contract extension for 2027, and he and Farnworth will both become free agents on November 1.
While Farnworth has been linked to the Sydney Roosters, he said it would be “nice to stay” at the Dolphins, and he hinted that the chance to keep playing with Cobbo would be alluring.
“He’s a big physical guy,” Farnworth said.
“I love carrying after him because it’s normally scattered defenders, so it suits me.
“We have a lot of really good young players who are only going to get better and better – Cobbo being one of them.”
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