Five men, 1004 metres, 103 runs. But will Cobbo break up Broncos’ band?

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It is scarcely believable Broncos coach Michael Maguire would tinker with his back five after their exploits against the Raiders. But Selwyn Cobbo’s looming comeback has presented him with a selection conundrum.

Aside from fullback Reece Walsh, whose game-changing moments inspired his side’s 29-28 qualifying final triumph in Canberra, Brisbane’s strike weapons holstered their guns and resolved to dig deep on Sunday afternoon.

Against a Raiders pack boasting representative stars Joe Tapine, Josh Papali’i and Corey Horsburgh, the quintet of Walsh, Deine Mariner, Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaaki combined for 1004 running metres from 103 carries to relieve pressure on their own engine room.

Kotoni Staggs was one of three members in Brisbane’s back five to run for more than 200 metres against Canberra.

“That’s definitely something we’ve been building to,” Mariner said.

“We know how much work our big boys get through. The least we can do is get us out of our own end. That’s definitely our standard now.”

Despite being lauded as the future of Brisbane’s backline, Mariner has endured an inconsistent campaign – his 17 first-grade appearances intertwined with stints in the Queensland Cup.

The 22-year-old admitted he was unsure if he could ever win his place back in 2025, having been axed twice this season and left out of the first choice line-up to start the year.

He revealed he “took first grade for granted” in the fledgling stages of career, before Maguire wielded some tough love.

“I have learnt a lot and taken so much from going back to QCup,” Mariner said.

“It is hard to play first grade, but staying there and being consistent is another thing. I used to rely on a lot of talent, but I learned from what Madge is putting us through – that it is a lot of hard work and a lot of extras on and off the field.

“Those are the things I cleaned up and the things I have been focusing on.”

But Cobbo’s anticipated return from a hamstring injury has thrown a spanner in the works ahead of next Sunday’s final bid for a place in the decider.

Cobbo has been named on Wynnum Manly’s extended bench for their Queensland Cup preliminary final against Norths Devils, having not played since the round 23 defeat to the Storm.

The former Queensland Maroons flyer’s 2023 grand final wing partner Jesse Arthars has also been named in jersey No.19 for the Burleigh Bears.

Selwyn Cobbo is assisted from the field.

While the incumbent five have proven lethal – combining for 92 games, 60 tries, 80 line-breaks and 404 tackle busts – Cobbo is a proven match-winner at his best, and has averaged 154 running metres and 4.5 tackle busts a game from just 15 NRL appearances this year.

A successful comeback could convince Maguire of injecting such strike power into his side in taking on the victor of the Panthers and Bulldogs semi-final showdown.

“He is a massive part of this squad and has been working really hard on his rehab to get himself back. He knows what he needs to do,” Mariner said.

“Who knows what opportunity arises again? You just never know.”

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