Monday Buzz: Boyd Cordner blasts retirement talk as return date confirmed
NSW and Roosters captain Boyd Cordner reveals all in an exclusive interview, his first since the State of Origin knockout.
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Champion forward Boyd Cordner has blasted claims he should retire from rugby league because of repeated head knocks.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, his first since the State of Origin knockout in Adelaide last year, Cordner declared: “I’ll be ready to go sometime in June and I’ll play like I always have. I’ll be as fearless as ever. It’s not going to change the way I play.”
The Kangaroos, NSW and Roosters skipper revealed a series of off-season specialist tests have proven his brain is perfectly healthy.
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And he says he has the unwavering support to continue from his parents and long-time partner Jemma Barge.
“Jemma knows I’m not that stupid to keep going if there was a major risk,” he said. “She knows it’s my life and my passion. Of course she gets worried like any partner would but she tries not to show it in front of me although I know it takes its toll on her.”
THE FIRST INTERVIEW
Boyd Cordner sounds nothing like a punch-drunk old boxer.
He speaks with confidence but caution, completely clear and articulate.
This is his first interview since he staggered off Adelaide Oval in State of Origin last year with another dose of concussion, triggering calls for the Roosters, NSW and Kangaroos captain to retire.
IMMEDIATE FUTURE
It was decided during an emotional heart-to-heart chat with coach Trent Robinson last November that he needed an extended break.
“That’s the plan to have a really good rest and come back in June,” Cordner told The Daily Telegraph.
“It was tough to hear at first. But if I want to keep going and have a long career I need to listen to good advice and my own body.
“I’ll be ready to go sometime in June.
“It’s hard. Not that I feel I’m letting anyone down but I’ve missed a bit of footy in recent times.
“It was actually heartbreaking at the time but I’ve got to look at the bigger picture.”
I ask Cordner why he keeps going. He has won premierships and captained NSW and Australia.
What more is there to achieve?
“I’m not ready to be finished,” Cordner said. “I feel confident I’ve got plenty more to offer.
“I’ve still got goals and ambition as long as I stay healthy.”
ONE MORE KNOCK
“I’m under no illusion about the position I’m in right now,” he said.
“It’s delicate. If it happens again, we’ll have to think about it. I’m not going to do anything silly.”
Surely another head injury will be in the back of his mind when he returns in June?
“It’s not going to change the way I play,” he said. “I’ll be doing a lot of work between now and my comeback on my body and my mind, making sure I don’t put my head in the wrong position.
“If I go into games worrying about where the next knock is coming from, I shouldn’t be playing.
“I’ll play like I always have. I’ll be as fearless as ever.”
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REP FOOTY
State of Origin is already out this year. The champion second-rower remains undecided about his long-term future with the NSW and Australia teams.
“These will be conversations for down the track,” Cordner said. “My only focus is getting as healthy as I can and lacing up the boots for the Roosters again.
“I’m really proud to captain my state and my country and I can’t just say right now that I’m going to stop. It’s going to take a lot of thought and I’ll make the decision at the right time.”
THE TESTS
After that Origin game three months ago, Cordner was in constant dialogue with Australia’s leading brain specialist, professor Chris Levi.
“He knows his stuff,” Cordner said. “Listening to an expert like him puts your mind at rest.
“I had scans to rule out anything major. They were fine. It was really positive. I wasn’t as worried as everyone else. The advice was that I needed a really good rest more than anything else.”
The Kangaroos skipper was further encouraged after more tests in mid-January.
“It was a really strenuous cognitive test over two and a half hours,” he explained.
“The doctor Andrew Gardner compared it to the one I did at the start of last year.
“He thinks it was probably better than my previous one. It was really positive.
“I got a huge boost. I knew I was feeling well but here was the proof.”
THE BREAK
“It was obviously a really stressful time,” Cordner said. “So I got away and really enjoyed myself.
“Normally I like to go overseas, but we went to Byron Bay instead.
“I went up a few times with my partner. Just chilling out. It was so relaxing.
“You get stopped in the street or getting the groceries but that’s kinda nice.
“Everyone was asking me about my concussion. You like to escape a bit but it shows they care.”
FAMILY
“Mum and Dad obviously worry because there’s been so much publicity and speculation,” he said.
“They get pulled up in the street too. It’s hard for them to see me injured any time, whether it’s concussion or anything else.
“They are really supportive but I’m their son. It can be hard on them. But they know I’m getting the best treatment from the best experts and how careful the Roosters have been.”
PARTNER
Cordner is in a long-term relationship with Jemma Barge.
I ask him if Jemma has ever asked him to give it away?
“No, she knows I’m not that stupid to keep going if there was a major risk,” Cordner said. “She knows it’s my life and my passion and what I’ve been doing since I was a little kid.
“She trusts me to handle it properly and she trusts the people looking after me.
“Jemma has been my rock. Of course she gets worried like any partner would but she tries not to show it in front of me, although I know it takes its toll on her.
“I can’t thank her enough for the support. Seriously, she’s unbelievable. She sees how frustrated I get with all the publicity and all the attention and it can rub off on her.”
ORIGIN KNOCKOUT
Cordner clearly remembers what happened without needing to watch a replay.
“I caught Felise’s (Kaufusi) elbow on my head,” Cordner said. “I knew I was dazed and had to come off for a HIA. I completed all the tests and went back out there.
“There was a lot of controversy because of my history with all my head knocks. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea in hindsight.”
However the Blues skipper fiercely defends the roles of the NSW medical staff on the night.
“Nathan Gibbs is probably the most respected sports doctor in Australia,” Cordner said.
“To question his years of experience and care for players was very disappointing.
“I’ve known Nathan for a long time and you can trust him with anything. He had an opinion that I was okay after the tests.”
STANDING DOWN
Cordner says it was his own decision to pull out of the remainder of the Origin series.
He insists there was no pressure from Freddy Fittler but it was tough because he loves the Blues jersey so much.
“As hard as it was to pull out of the series down one-nil I knew it was the right call,” he said.
“I had a good chat with Travis Touma who was in the Blues camp and looks after our high performance at the Roosters. We really had no choice.”
THE SALARY CAP
The Roosters have applied to the NRL for $350,000 in salary cap relief to cover for the 12 rounds Cordner will miss.
“That’s a side issue,” chairman Nick Politis said. “Boyd’s health and wellbeing is our only concern. He’s a great guy and we love him.
“He will miss 12 weeks whether we can claim it on the salary cap or not.”
Cordner is grateful the Roosters are handling it so professionally.
“I can’t thank them enough,” he said. “Nick, Robbo and everyone. It could have been easy for them to say they want me ready for round one. It’s just the patience and the care they have for players. It means the world to me.”
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