Boyd Cordner is expected to become the third high-profile Sydney Roosters player to retire in 2021, forced out of the NRL because of repeated concussions.
The Roosters, NSW and Australia Test captain is reportedly set to confirm his retirement at a press conference on Monday morning.
The 29-year-old hasn’t played since sustaining a head knock during the opening game of the 2020 State of Origin series.
Cordner returned to the field in that game but took no further part in the series, won by Queensland.
He stepped away from the game to consider his future but the Roosters had been upbeat about a Round 14 NRL return for their inspirational skipper.
That comeback date passed in the Roosters’ heart-stopping 35-34 win over the Gold Coast on Saturday with speculation that Cordner’s comeback had been put on hold.
Cordner joins former club co-captain Jake Friend in retirement in 2021 because of concussion issues.
The Roosters have also farewelled Brett Morris this season after a career-ending knee injury.
Cordner’s call will mark a cruel end to a decorated career.
One of the most reliable players in the game, Cordner figured in premierships with the Roosters in 2013, 2018 and 2019.
He also led NSW to Origin series victories in 2018 and 2019 and took over as Kangaroos Test captain in 2018.
Cordner still had two years to run on his Roosters contract but will instead end with 181 games for the foundation club, 20 matches for the Kangaroos and 16 Origins for NSW.
It also comes as another brutal blow to the injury-hit Roosters who are also without representative stars Luke Keary and Lindsay Collins with long-term injuries.
Cordner’s medical retirement has been cleared by the NRL, according to media reports.
His decision to walk away from the game on health grounds comes as the NRL launches a crackdown on head-high tackles.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I respectfully disagree… you think GPs are good at diagnosing CTE…? But even that is reliant on the park footy player even going to the doctor in the first place
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
I said it before on this forum that the right thing to do for Cordner's long term welfare was for him to retire, no doubt it was a difficult decision but it is the right call, my respects to him for having the courage to give away what he loves so much, all the best to him, the game has prematurely lost a great player.
mushi
Roar Guru
Whilst Yeo Yeh was worse that doesn't mean cordner's can't be cruel. He's been cut down in his prime. If there's only room for one "cruel" it's a pretty useless adjective.
Kerry Hanson
Guest
One rule certainly doesn’t apply to all Tony . It’s common knowledge that smoking can kill you , but millions of people continue to do so , hoping that they dodge a bullet.
Paul
Roar Guru
I copped more than my fair share of head knocks and received great support from coaches and doctors. The major difference between professionals and the rest of us, is the professional will be checked thoroughly, whereas that may not be the case with the amateur. In that instance, you can't force a person to seek treatment if they won;t go I'm sorry you think little has changed in the past 20 years, but that wasn't my experience at all. More to the point, if you're right, you're effectively saying medical support and treatment has stayed stagnant in Australia. That's something I find very hard to believe
Paul
Roar Guru
Of course I'm not suggesting that and that's not what I wrote. What I'm saying is, doctors in Australia are still very good at diagnosis and treatment. The treatment for all manner of injuries is still world class, even at a few levels down from the top notch medical support elite athletes can get.
Don
Roar Rookie
Well said. I worry for Wade Graham now as well. He’s getting concussion symptoms from pretty innocuous head contact now. I see he’s taking 4 weeks off.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yep, no evidence whatsoever. And the knocks that ended up ending Friend and Cordner’s careers were them making tackles well above the waist Anecdotally I’d suggest that most of Friend’s concussions that I saw were like that one, where he tried to make a high tackle and had a head clash… but I don’t have any evidence of that either…
Hoy
Roar Guru
That was VERY cruel... that bloke could have been amazing!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Come on, you can’t tell me the average park level A grader is getting anywhere near the same level of medical care, testing, follow up, access to specialists, etc as a first grade rugby league player being paid hundreds of thousands every year Or that the crackdown exists in any form for them…
Former roarer
Guest
If not for Nathan Cleary, we'd be talking about how Boyd Cordner has the greatest chin of any man to play rugby league. Instead we talk about how he is a 3 time premiership winning player, 2 of those as captain, captain of a victorious NSW team, and a proud holder of 20 test caps. Sad to see him go, but it's definitely the right call. When he's 50 he'll be able to remember those successes. He wouldn't have if he kept playing.
Crow
Roar Pro
Good player. Even better bloke
Nat
Roar Guru
You should probably look a little further into that statement. Acknowledging they were not all high shots but you can get can/will get the same results by going high in tackles. Whether it's a head clash or hitting the ground after being bumped off, it's all about tackle technique that has been trained into them and now has to be trained and penalised out of them.
Kerry Hanson
Guest
Seriously Paul ? When I played in the group 9 comp 20 something years ago , our strapper was a bloke that knew a bit about it ,and I doubt a lot has changed . As far as medical advice goes , it was up to you to take action and have insurance in place to cover it . I don’t ever remember ( no pun intended ) someone turning up at training and the coach saying “ you better sit this weekend out mate , you bumped ya head on the weekend “. And I can assure you no players ever volunteered to do so .
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Well said.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Good luck Boyd, you are a great footballer. I hope your next phase of life is successful.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I see this comment a lot. Based on what evidence do you make this claim. You should check out the NRL physio on twitter.
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
AJ
Roar Rookie
Whilst I dont disagree with the crackdown, Friend, Keary, Cordner and Graham all seem to have got most of their knocks defending low.
Paul
Roar Guru
cruel is what happened to someone like Jharal Yeo Yeh from the Broncos. Only got to play 60 games before injury killed his career. At least Cordner's had a pretty good run in the game.