Adam Jackson has dismissed old talk about Selwyn Cobbo’s relationship with Billy Slater and backed the winger to force his way back into the Maroons squad.

The comments were published on May 14, 2026, and came as Cobbo was again being discussed in the context of Queensland selection. Jackson’s view was simple: the noise around the pair should not stand in the way of a recall if Cobbo’s form demands it.

That is the significance of the moment today. The Queensland squad is the only selection question that matters here, and Cobbo remains in the frame because his name still carries weight in Maroons discussion. Jackson’s backing gives the issue a fresh push just as selectors weigh their options.

The lingering rumour is the friction point. Past talk about Cobbo and Slater’s relationship has hung around the player, but Jackson dismissed it rather than let it define the selection debate. In doing so, he shifted attention back to football and away from the background chatter that has followed Cobbo.

The article was first published at 12:22pm ET and updated at 12:45pm ET on May 14, 2026. What happens next is clear enough: if Cobbo’s case keeps strengthening, the Maroons will have to decide whether form outweighs everything else that has trailed him.