Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2025

[McHunt]

But who did GI have guiding him and who has Cobbo had? There's the difference right there I think. I imagine GI went into the Storm system as an already fantastic talent but Craig and his staff pushed him to be better, taught him to set a standard for himself and not let that slip. He then carried that to the Bunnies and look what happened. I don't know that Selwyn has ever really had that at the Broncos.

I'm holding off on my opinion on Selwyn for the moment. I'd be interested to see what Madge brings out of him, given his similarities to Bellamy and his time in that system.

My only reservations are the off field stuff that was reported on a few months back.

Madge (assistant) coached GI at the Storm for 4 or 5 years, and then later as head coach of the Rabbitohs.

 

[Wolfie]

Staggs you can rely on a bit more than Cobbo which is why i would lean more towards him. Selwyn from the outside looking in seems a bit mentally fragile, and he doesnt have the best work ethic.

The problem with our centers is their salary. We cant carry both on the type of money they will want. I dont think Selwyn is worth what we are paying him now ( or Staggs for that matter ), and he isnt worth that. We cant keep paying on potential. Cobbo has 68 first grade games as well as 1 Australia cap and 6 Origin games. He's not a rookie anymore. I dont see where his value is when he seems to fall apart after Origin.

 

[Harry Sack]

Madge (assistant) coached GI at the Storm for 4 or 5 years, and then later as head coach of the Rabbitohs.

Kind of my point...

 

[BroncsFan]

Staggs you can rely on a bit more than Cobbo which is why i would lean more towards him. Selwyn from the outside looking in seems a bit mentally fragile, and he doesnt have the best work ethic.

The problem with our centers is their salary. We cant carry both on the type of money they will want. I dont think Selwyn is worth what we are paying him now ( or Staggs for that matter ), and he isnt worth that. We cant keep paying on potential. Cobbo has 68 first grade games as well as 1 Australia cap and 6 Origin games. He's not a rookie anymore. I dont see where his value is when he seems to fall apart after Origin.

In regards to Staggs vs Cobbo... I think the downside for Cobbo as a centre is his mentality like you say, but in regards to Staggs he's played 121 games now and I think he still lacks in a lot of the general football smarts and skills areas.

He can make a 1v1 tackle defensively, but he makes poor defensive decisions a lot of the time.... constantly shooting out to try and tackle the five eight and leaving his winger with 1v3's!!

His workrate is pretty poor a lot of the time and his attack near the goal line is becoming gradually ineffective year on year... players are shutting him down 1v1 when that's meant to be his strength.

Beyond that he doesn't have some of the weapons that other good centres have in a quick pass to get past a jamming receiver, he doesn't seem to have a flick pass offload, etc. He also uses power and his fend rather than having a step that can beat his man straight up in 1v1... like say a Crichton who can step to get the outside and then offload when the winger is drawn in.

Madge being a defensive minded coach will hopefully improve Staggs defence, but I don't think Madge is that great on the other side of the ball.

Barrett coming in will likely be great as an overall attack coach, but he's probably more of a halves coach, whereas I think Staggs needs a skills coach... the whole team could probably do with having a skills coach to be honest.

On the other hand Cobbo has all the attacking upside in the world and is also pretty solid defensively when he's not mentally fatigued.

Cobbo also brings workrate... if we lose Cobbo that would mean we've lost our 3 biggest workhorses in the outside backs year on year (Herbie, Oates and then Cobbo) and the other backs aren't picking up the slack.

It was a major issue this year with our yardage sets getting pumped, and this would compound the issue threefold if they don't find replacements. Assuming Cobbo goes 4 of the future back 5 are already taken up with guys that aren't really workhorse outside backs (1. Walsh, 2. Arthars, 3. Staggs, 4. Mariner... 5. TBC)... there's not much room there to improve the yardage game.

 

[007]

For me, keep Staggs and Mariner ( of course negotiated contracts).
Let cobbo walk if he won't agree to a club salary perspective. He will always require that special coach to get the best out of him..