“Billy's got a role for him”: Parker supports surprise Cobbo selection

Queensland Origin great Corey Parker has endorsed Billy Slater’s shock decision to name Selwyn Cobbo on the bench, saying his selection is a strategic one in the case of injuries.

Cobbo has been playing centre for the Brisbane Broncos, averaging 141 metres and 6.2 tackle breaks in 2024, and can play anywhere in the outside backs should injury strike.

With doubts over Reece Walsh’s fitness, and the large number of injuries to outside backs in the NRL this season, Parker, who represented Queensland on 19 occasions in State of Origin, believes Billy Slater chose Cobbo on the bench to ensure that they are prepared should a player go down.

“I’ve got no doubt Cobbo is there as insurance for potentially Reece Walsh, he’s there for insurance for anyone in the backline,” Parker explained on SENQ Mornings.

“Game to game, week to week in the NRL season, it’s very rare that a game goes by where an outside back doesn’t go down with a soft issue injury of a HIA… in the modern game, particularly the big ones, you do need some insurance. You need some… players who can play any position.

“If things go pear shaped in the opening minute, how do we counteract it? We’ve got some players who can do that.”

In the 2023 series, the NSW Blues lost centre Tom Trbojevic to a pec injury three minutes into Game 2. It forced hooker Damien Cook into centre and the Blues lost 32-6.

Reece Walsh played the full game against the Gold Coast Titans yesterday, but has been dealing with an ongoing minor knee injury.

Parker insisted however, that if a player isn’t injured, that Slater would have another role in place for Cobbo.

“Billy’s not picking a player to not play players, you can’t do that in State of Origin. It’s just too difficult,” Parker said.

“The pace of the game is too fast. There will be an avenue that they’ll be able to find to get Selwyn Cobbo into that game.

“He’s big enough. He’s 99 kilograms and 6’2. He is one hell of an athlete… Billy’s got a role for him to play. he’ll be playing his part within the game.”

The opening game of the State of Origin series is on June 5th in Sydney.