Broncos young gun Cobbo emerging as State of Origin bolter

He’s faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap over the tallest
players in a single bound.

The only thing missing is a red cape and a big “S” on the front of his jumper.

To say Brisbane Broncos young gun Selwyn Cobbo is hotter than Phall — the world’s hottest curry — would be an understatement given his recent form which includes a career-first hat-trick recently against Manly.

As is often the case, his speed, strength, agility, skill and toughness have seen the 19-year-old indigenous flyer from Cherbourg compared to some past greats, heaping even more pressure on his teenage shoulders.

At 190cm and a tick under 100kgs, Cobbo definitely has the right physic and DNA to play State of Origin.

The question is, will Queensland selectors take the gamble and pitch him into a Maroon jumper next month as many believe?

He continues to tease them every week with his stunning displays which could make it near impossible for them to leave him out of their final 17-man squad.

After his blistering three-try performance against Manly, the endorsements to blood him in Maroon have come thick and fast – led by former Queensland stars, including Gorden Tallis who admits to seeing a bit of Greg Inglis in the prodigious young talent.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters and former Maroon’s halfback Cooper Cronk have both pointed out Cobbo is something special with the right DNA to play for Queensland and Australia in the future.

But one person more qualified than most to comment on Cobbo’s claims and to give the youngster some sound advice is Steve Renouf, who traveled the same journey as Cobbo during the 1990s.

The synergies between Cobbo and Renouf are startling.

Both have indigenous heritage and come from aboriginal communities.

Both started their rugby league careers at the Broncos and both were identified as superstars at a young age.

Renouf though was reluctant to compare Cobbo with former stars such as Inglis or Latrell Mitchell, when talking to BettingSite.com.au.

“Why do we have to compare him or call him the next Greg Inglis or the next Latrell Mitchell, just let him be Selwyn Cobbo.

“He’s such a good kid. He’s very quiet and just loves playing footy like he is back home.

“He grew up playing rugby league. He loves the game and that’s how he is playing and how he should keep playing.

“He turned the first game against Souths around for Brisbane and he is just getting better and better.

“He’s a big boy and he doesn’t mind the physical stuff.

“He’s a unit and he is still growing, that’s scary.

“Just let him play football and not put too much pressure on the kid.”

Renouf said Origin football should be the last thing on Cobbo’s mind — even though it’s every player’s dream.

“He’s setting himself up at the Broncos.

“My advice to Selwyn is don’t even think about Origin, concentrate on the Broncos, they are paying his bread and butter.”

Cobbo is set to be targeted by almost every NRL club when he comes off contract with the Sydney Roosters and new franchise the Dolphins leading the charge.

Brisbane is understood to be working on its biggest ever player contract deal to keep Cobbo at the club for many years to come.

Renouf said he could not see Cobbo moving to Sydney.

“He’s got good support around him and for him, that should be more important to his future than the money they will throw at him.

“His only option would be the Dolphins (the new NRL club based at Redcliffe, to debut next year with Wayne Bennett as coach) because he will still have the same family and friends around him.

“Right now he’s just got to keep doing what he has been doing. Wayne (Bennett) used to say to us when I played: ‘the game is pretty simple, so don’t make it hard’.

“You get the ball, run hard and score tries, it’s not hard.”

Cobbo has made that look easy in recent weeks as the Broncos rattled off four successive wins to put themselves on the cusp of the top 8.

“It all comes naturally to Selwyn. Once he gets a bit of space, he does the rest.”

The Broncos are a $1.71 with Aussies bookies to defeat the Newcastle Knights ($2.15) at McDonalds Jones Stadium on Thursday night, from 7.50pm.