Billy Slater, Queensland Maroons, Selwyn Cobbo on the bench, news, video, Brent Read, Braith Anasta, NRL360, State of Origin

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“To be honest, four of our last six games we’ve had to replace an outside back, so that’s the first reason,” Slater told NRL360 on Monday night.

“The second reason is that Selwyn Cobbo is a wonderful player, I have seen him play in many positions. Wing, center and fullback for the Broncos.

“He’s just one of those players you want to get on the field. We’ll build a bit of a plan how to inject him into the game if he’s not needed in the outside back.

“Queensland have been used to doing this over the years … we’ll find what’s best for the team and for Selwyn.”

Australian Brent Read asked the Queensland coach if Cobbo could be injected as a center forward, with the Maroons using that tactic in past series.

Knights gun Kalyn Ponga, current midfielder Daly Cherry-Evans and Queensland legend Cooper Cronk have all previously been injected into the middle of the park off the bench in Origin.

“Yes, anything is possible. Selwyn is a big body so bringing him on would be a dangerous prospect,” said Slater.

“Selwyn being out there on the field at some point during the game will be exciting for the Queenslanders … he’s never let his condition down.”

But league legend Braith Anasta wasn’t buying it and “can’t imagine” Cobbo playing that role despite being one of the NRL’s most in-form players.

“I couldn’t imagine him in midfield, I can imagine him anywhere (in the backline),” Anasta said.

“I imagine those players, because they can play at number 9, Selwyn running out of half, would be hard to stop, especially with a tiring defensive line later in the half.

“But I still can’t imagine… It’s like you just need him in the team, put him on the bench and he can play anywhere because he’s doing so well.”

Read then went on to reveal a damning statistic that could come back to haunt NSW who opted to pick four forwards from their bench.

“There’s a statistic from this year’s games that if you lose an outside back in the first half of a football game this year, if you don’t wear one, you lose,” Read said.

“I think it’s something like six out of 24 games this year, the team that lost an outside linebacker in the first half and didn’t have one on the bench (lost).”

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield added: “It’s still a weapon, you bring it and you roam it. You license Turbo (Trbojevic) from a few years ago.

“Don’t sit back and just… play.”

Queensland legend Gorden Tallis backed Slater’s call and believed the move could be a master stroke if the Maroons aim to wrap up the series opener.

“It’s a luxury, it’s a luxury to carry an outside on your back,” he said.

“He might only get the last 10 minutes if we’re chasing points, but Selwyn Cobbo comes fresh when it’s all attacking, incredible.”