Selwyn Cobbo’s NRL Future: Dolphins Deal Finalised, But Meninga Eyes 2027 Move to Perth Bears
Selwyn Cobbo’s playing future has finally taken shape—at least in the short term—after the Dolphins confirmed they’ve secured the out-of-favour Brisbane Broncos star for the 2026 NRL season. However, there’s already speculation about where he might land after that, with Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga suggesting his club will strongly consider targeting Cobbo for their debut NRL campaign in 2027.
Cobbo’s 2025 season has been marred by a dramatic fall from grace at the Broncos. Once a regular in Queensland’s State of Origin lineup and tipped as one of the NRL’s brightest young stars, the 23-year-old has found himself demoted to reserve grade in recent weeks. His replacement, Josiah Karapani, has seized the opportunity with a string of impressive performances, prompting Brisbane to extend his contract. The Broncos have also re-signed senior players Adam Reynolds, Kotoni Staggs, and Blake Mozer, limiting the financial room left to retain Cobbo.
While Cobbo had reportedly been earning around $650,000 per season, the Broncos’ most recent offer fell significantly short—reportedly closer to $300,000 annually. With his market value dropping and his first-grade position no longer secure, the Dolphins swooped in to offer a lifeline.
Terry Reader, the Dolphins’ CEO, confirmed the signing in a club statement, describing Cobbo as a player with “untapped potential” and noting his past achievements at both the Origin and NRL levels. “Selwyn is an accomplished player who has done some amazing things… but we believe he can reach even greater heights in a Dolphins jersey,” Reader said.
Despite the signing, questions remain about Cobbo’s long-term future in the game. His contract with the Dolphins is for one season only, which has fuelled speculation that he may be eyeing a switch to the Perth Bears in 2027—when the club officially enters the competition. Meninga, who will take over as head coach of the new franchise on July 1, hasn’t hidden his interest.
“It’d be silly not to consider someone like Selwyn,” Meninga said when asked about the potential signing. “There’s no doubting Selwyn’s talent. You have to talk to those guys if they are available.”
While Meninga hasn’t spoken directly with Cobbo yet, he suggested that the young winger’s recent struggles on the field might be tied to issues off it. “In my experience, a drop in form doesn’t usually mean a player has lost their talent—it comes from a loss of desire or things going on away from the field,” he told SEN. “That’s where I think Selwyn is right now. He has a few things to solve.”
The 2023 Kangaroos coach, who handed Cobbo his Test debut for Australia against Samoa that year, is well known for mentoring some of the NRL’s top Indigenous talent, including legends like Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston. Meninga believes Cobbo needs to reconnect with his passion for the game, possibly by drawing strength from his Indigenous roots in Cherbourg.
“You have to find the reason why you do anything in life,” Meninga added. “If Selwyn can find that spark again—maybe by going back to his family or community—that’s great. We don’t want him to fall out of love with the game, then look back in a decade saying, ‘I could’ve been something.’”
Cobbo will finish the 2025 season with Brisbane before joining the Dolphins in November for pre-season training. The short-term nature of his new contract may indicate that he’s keeping his options open—possibly waiting for the Perth Bears to officially enter the fold in 2027.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have been busy reshaping their backline for the future. As reported earlier, Karapani—who has scored four tries in his last two games—has earned a contract extension, while Melbourne Storm’s Grant Anderson is also joining the Broncos on a multi-year deal. Both players are now locked in through at least 2027, joining Kotoni Staggs, Jesse Arthars, Deine Mariner, and Gehamat Shibasaki in Brisbane’s backline rotation.
The club’s aggressive recruitment drive has made it increasingly clear that Cobbo was not in their long-term plans. Broncos coach Michael Maguire acknowledged last week that Cobbo’s contract situation would “sort itself out” depending on his form—but the writing was already on the wall with Karapani thriving in his absence.
Elsewhere in the NRL, another notable player movement was confirmed with veteran forward Jack de Belin set to join the Parramatta Eels in 2026. De Belin—St George Illawarra’s longest-serving active player—was involved in discussions for an extension with the Dragons, but has since agreed to a deal with the Eels. That contract is currently in the NRL’s mandatory 10-day cooling-off period, but unless there’s a last-minute change of heart, de Belin will officially become part of Parramatta’s rebuilding project under new coach Jason Ryles.
De Belin made his NRL debut back in 2011 and has played 242 games for the Red V, leaving him just 31 appearances shy of Ben Hornby’s club record. He will join a Parramatta forward pack that has recently lost the likes of Bryce Cartwright and Joe Ofahengaue, as the club seeks experienced reinforcements to support their next generation under Ryles.
As for Cobbo, the coming 18 months will be pivotal in determining whether the once highly-touted star can reignite his career. With Meninga watching closely from Perth and the Dolphins giving him a chance to prove himself, the ball is now in Cobbo’s court.
If he can overcome his current challenges and rediscover the spark that once made him one of the game’s most exciting young talents, a major career resurgence—and possibly a long-term role in Perth’s rugby league revolution—could still be on the cards.
