Broncos legend Gorden Tallis has leapt to the defence of Selwyn Cobbo as Maroons halfback Daly Cherry-Evans denied reports of a rift between Cobbo and Billy Slater on Monday.

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Slater was quick to shut down the reports when they first surfaced last year on the eve of the State of Origin decider, with Danny Weidler claiming the Queensland coach had not been “seeing eye to eye” with Cobbo.

Slater called it “fake news”, although Weidler was insistent at the time that his information was accurate and once again stood by the story earlier in the week after Cobbo was left out of Queensland’s squad for Game 1.

Instead, Slater opted for Roosters rookie Robert Toia, and while there were reports Cobbo was in doubt with a wrist injury Weidler maintained last week that the Brisbane outside back is healthy for selection.

“It’s mysterious to say the least… when you look at the fact they have brought in an absolute rookie who is going to be a very good player in Robert Toia, they brought him in rather than maybe take a chance on seeing whether that scan was OK,” Weidler said on Triple M.

“New South Wales is giving Payne Haas until Monday to run. That’s how highly they think of Payne Haas. They didn’t even bother selecting Selwyn Cobbo.

“I stand by that story… and I think the fact Selwyn is not there tells me something. I know he’s fit. I’ve been told there’s not an injury there so I don’t think there’s been a satisfactory or suitable explanation as to what’s gone on.”

However, both Tallis and Cherry-Evans once again refuted any suggestions of conflict between Cobbo and Slater ahead of the Origin opener.

Lke Slater, Tallis labelled it “fake news” and said there is “no truth” to the story.

“We all know where it came from. This is the funny thing, they got away with it last year so I don’t want to give them up. But they got away with it last year,” Tallis said on Triple M.

“I don’t know why they doubled down on it.

“There is nothing, and if these guys want to talk about mental health… there is nothing wrong with Selwyn Cobbo and Billy Slater. We all know where it got brought up. Every journalist got told the story and it didn’t stack up. So, I know where it came from.

“I would challenge both of those journalists to go ask the bloke who told them whether they want me to say it, because I’m happy to say it. I’d be so happy to say it.

“To say this is who said it, this is where it came from, no other journalist that has been working on the game from 40 years to 20 years thought the story stacked it up and there was no truth to it whatsoever.

“That’s the sad part and now they keep on doing it to a young kid. They’re wrong… leave him alone. It is fake. You’re bulls***ing and you’re putting people under pressure when you know it’s wrong.”

Cherry-Evans, meanwhile, said on Monday morning that it was “ridiculous” he even had to answer questions about Cobbo’s relationship with Slater.

“Have you guys made it a thing, that we don’t like Selwyn? They are doing a great job of creating content, aren’t they? Good on them,” the Maroons halfback said.

“I have really enjoyed playing footy with Selwyn. He is a fantastic footy player and an even better person.

“It’s so ridiculous sometimes that we have to justify our relationship with people, especially someone as good-natured as Selwyn Cobbo. How and who picks the team, it’s got nothing to do with the players.

“It’s a selector and coach thing and we always back them to make the right decision.”