{"id":743734,"date":"2026-06-18T04:36:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/743734\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T04:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:36:12","slug":"state-of-origin-2026-selwyn-cobbos-remarkable-resurgence-in-dolphins-queensland-maroons-colours-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/743734\/","title":{"rendered":"State of Origin 2026: Selwyn Cobbo\u2019s remarkable resurgence in Dolphins, Queensland Maroons colours | Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The smiles of Billy Slater<\/a> and Cameron Munster<\/a> spoke volumes.<\/p>\n

Slater was evidently delighted as attention turned to Selwyn Cobbo<\/a> in his post-game press conference after Queensland\u2019s 44-24 trouncing of NSW<\/a>. Teeming with pride in the bowels of the MCG on Wednesday night, he spoke of the boom youngster \u201cgetting what he deserves\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Selwyn Cobbo and Cameron Munster celebrate one of the hat-trick hero’s tries.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

That is, a hat-trick in a series-levelling Queensland<\/a> win inside the most grand Australian stadium of all, and the sizzling State of Origin<\/a> comeback he had made in Sydney a fortnight earlier.<\/p>\n

Munster set up Cobbo\u2019s first try with a lobbed kick to the left wing. Post-game, the Maroons captain took in Slater\u2019s sweet words about the loveable lad from Cherbourg and smiled warmly.<\/p>\n

Twelve months ago, Cobbo was running around for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls with the No.23 on his back. Michael Maguire<\/a>\u2019s patience in the big outside back had worn thin, and off to reserve grade he went.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Broncos bosses were trying to force him out of the club, and talk of the prodigiously talented young gun\u2019s late-night gaming, sleep-ins and weight issues were leaked to the media.<\/p>\n

The leaks were convenient for the Broncos, who did a good job of relaying to their fans why they let one of the most naturally gifted rugby league players to have laced a boot leave the club, but the leaks were also telling.<\/p>\n

This was a case of a young lad with remarkably rare and raw talent \u2013 the kind of talent that had people comparing him to Greg Inglis<\/a> when he burst onto the NRL<\/a> scene at 18 \u2013 but with a level of professionalism not conducive to sustained success in the top flight.<\/p>\n

Slater had also lost faith in Cobbo. Once an Origin bolter at just 19 years of age, in Slater\u2019s first year as Maroons coach, the young enigma was in 2025 thrust into Origin exile. He didn\u2019t play a single game of last year\u2019s series. <\/p>\n

The Dolphins took a gamble in June last year, when Cobbo was doing his time in reserve grade. The Broncos\u2019 local rivals treaded carefully, agreeing to sign him on a one-year deal<\/a>, and on significantly less money than he was on at Red Hill.<\/p>\n

There were fears at the time that Cobbo would slip away to Redcliffe and continue to mosey through his career. That the freakish flyer would ultimately prove a first-grade flop. That his career crossroads would lead to a road of no return.<\/p>\n

Cue the turnaround. One of the most spectacular rugby league turnarounds in recent memory. A turnaround that began in Dolphins colours and has continued in maroon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Selwyn Cobbo in June 2025, after Broncos coach Michael Maguire dropped him.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Is he enjoying being away from the glaring spotlight that bears down on the Broncos? Or has he simply been jolted into gear by the Broncos\u2019 banishing and a change of scene?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get what you deserve in our game, and Selwyn\u2019s getting what he deserves at the moment,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s worked really hard, he\u2019s nice and fit, he\u2019s happy, he\u2019s got a big smile on his face, and he\u2019s in a great space. His football is reflecting that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Selwyn Cobbo has rediscovered his mojo in Dolphins colours.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Maroons bench forward Trent Loiero knows what professionalism looks like. He\u2019s cut his teeth under Craig Bellamy<\/a> at the Storm and is one of Slater\u2019s most honest toilers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see how he [Cobbo] goes about his business now,\u201d Loiero said in the sheds after Wednesday night\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what he was like a few years ago, but seeing him in camp this year, he\u2019s very professional about how he goes about his stuff, with his prep and training, and at the end of the day it\u2019s been showing in games.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool to see how good he\u2019s playing, and him reaping the rewards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queensland outside back Jojo Fifita is only a year younger than Cobbo, but he follows the Dolphins dynamo\u2019s lead. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s definitely someone I look up to, especially when I\u2019m playing wing,\u201d Fifita said post-game.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve been taking a lot of tips and advice from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nine\u2019s Danika Mason spotted Johnathan Thurston<\/a>, the legendary Queensland playmaker who\u2019s now a Maroons assistant coach, speaking with Cobbo on the field after the full-time siren.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was so happy for you,\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was he saying to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

With his infectious smile and soft, humble voice, the kind of personality that\u2019s good for rugby league\u2019s soul, Cobbo let the viewers in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout the week he sees me training on my own, doing extras, and it pays off in the game,\u201d Cobbo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes him happy to see that I\u2019m working behind the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The smiles of Billy Slater and Cameron Munster spoke volumes. Slater was evidently delighted as attention turned to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":743735,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-743734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/743734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=743734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/743734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/743735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=743734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=743734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=743734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}