Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo is on his way out of the club after recently being dumped to the Queensland Cup.
Cobbo has decided to continue his NRL career elsewhere next year after not being made a formal offer despite months of negotiations with Brisbane.
The club has very little salary cap room to move and the six-time Maroons representative will attract a bigger deal at a rival club.
However, the Dragons have pulled out of the race for his services despite Cobbo touring Wollongong last week to be shown around their facilities and meet club officials.
St George Illawarra don’t want to be engaged in a bidding war for his services and the Cowboys are also in the mix as they try to boost their strikepower out wide.
Brisbane have signed Melbourne’s Grant Anderson and handed fellow outside back Josiah Karapani a new deal until the end of 2027, joining Jesse Arthars, Kotoni Staggs, Deine Mariner and Gehamat Shibasaki as backline options on the club’s roster next year.
Cobbo was dropped from the NRL side after a big loss to Manly in May and is in the final season of a deal worth an estimated $625,000 annually.
The Dragons have turned their attention to Panthers forward Luke Garner after Jack de Belin has signed with Parramatta for next season although the Eels are also chasing the former Wests Tigers second-rower.
To’o on report but knee a bigger worry
Brian To’o says is unconcerned by being placed on report for a high tackle, but a fresh knee injury could be the winger’s latest issue ahead of State of Origin III.
To’o was put on report for a high shot on Canterbury centre Bronson Xerri late in the Panthers’ 8-6 win on Thursday night.
The initial contact appeared to be on Montoya’s chest, before To’o’s shoulder appeared to bounce up and connect with the lower part of the winger’s face.
To’o has a clean record and would be able to escape with a fine if hit with a grade-one charge by the match review committee for the tackle on Friday morning.
But a grade-two offence would spell trouble, given it would be enough to have him banned for the Origin series decider at Accor Stadium on July 9.
Asked if he was worried about the tackle as he left CommBank Stadium on Thursday night, To’o replied: “Nah”.
He added: “I asked him if he was alright, he said he was sweet.
“But I had to check on Brons and see if he was alright.”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and Canterbury counterpart Cameron Ciraldo both played down the tackle.
The bigger issue for To’o could be his left knee.
The 26-year-old confirmed after the match he had suffered a fresh issue when he required strapping to it in the first half, and he left the ground with ice around it.
To’o’s fitness is crucial for NSW, after his sheer power helped him score a hat-trick in the Blues Origin II loss in Perth.
“I’m still walking, that’s the main positive sign,” To’o said.
“I think it might’ve happened during the game, either way I’m all good … It’s good.”
To’o did finish the game, but also did likewise when he hurt his hamstring in round four before being ruled out for five weeks.
“I’m not too sure. He kept playing, but I have seen him do that before,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said when asked about how To’o was.
“I honestly don’t know how he is.”
If To’o was to miss, Canterbury winger Jacob Kiraz would loom as the most likely replacement.
The good news for NSW was with Nathan Cleary after hearing his groin pop on the day before Origin II in Perth.
The Penrith halfback didn’t kick goals in the win on Friday night, and remains unsure if he will be able to do so in the decider.
But crucially, he got through Thursday night unscathed.
“It was good, I didn’t really have any scares at all,” Cleary said.
“This week I got two really solid training sessions in and felt confident. I am very grateful to the NSW physios and Penrith physios.
“They put a lot of work into me and got me into a headspace where I was right to play.
“Goalkicking is the next box to tick, but I was happy with how it went.”
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