Now 95 years later Dolphins winger Cobbo, born in Cherbourg, is putting his Indigenous community on the map in the same way and is keen to look further into Gilbert's life in the off-season to understand better his achievements.
Gilbert's feats for Queensland inspired a generation of sporting greats from the region, including Brisbane legend Steve Renouf who grew up in Murgon near Cherbourg.
"I haven't really had the time to look deeply into that but in the off-season when I go back home I will definitely look into the sports players like (Gilbert) from Cherbourg," Cobbo said.
"There is the Ration Shed (Museum) with all of the history where I will pop in and refresh.
"I tell everyone when I go back there to keep working hard and anything is possible.
"Good things happen when people never give up. It is about having that hunger for your dreams. If you go after it, one day you will achieve it."
Cobbo credits being happy on and off the field at the Dolphins for his career-best year in 2026 which led to a contract extension until the end of 2031, a magnificent State of Origin return for Queensland and a home preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
Gilbert, who Bradman said was the fastest bowler he ever faced, pursued his dreams the best way he could at the time and took 73 wickets for Queensland.
He never played for Australia and his career was impeded by a 1897 Act of Queensland Parliament which placed severe restrictions on the freedom of movement, work rights and daily lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"There are still heaps of talents in Cherbourg but not many make it out," Cobbo said.
"I am very grateful I got the chance to come down here and play footy.
"There are heaps of boys there that should be playing NRL ... boxers, netballers .... heaps that could make it. Obviously you need a bit of luck to get there."
To prove Cobbo's point, his great-uncle Adrian Blair was a national boxing title holder from Cherbourg who represented Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and previously at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth with Cherbourg's Eddie Barney and gold medal winner Jeffrey Dynevor.
Cobbo, who played at Brisbane previously, said a weight was off his shoulders after re-signing at the Dolphins.
"The club has done a lot for me. They told me they would bring me back to Origin and I just want to give back to them and play good footy here for the next five years," he said.
"My performance last year (at the Broncos) ... it wasn't the best, but I learned a lot.
"This year I made sure my off-field stuff is good ... my weight is good. If I am happy off the field, I am happy on the field."
Cobbo has also bonded with coach Kristian Woolf, who understands him better than most.
"He grew up in one of our communities in Mount Isa so he knows what it is like to be around Aboriginal people and people of mixed culture, as the coach of Tonga as well," he said.
"He has been real helpful, not just for me but the team as well ... making sure we have days off and looking after our bodies mentally and physically."
