State of Origin 2020: Roosters supremo’s message to Boyd Cordner
Powerful Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis spoke from the heart about the conversation he had with Blues skipper Boyd Cordner.
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Nick Politis has opened up about his personal concern for Boyd Cordner’s ongoing welfare, revealing the tough NSW captain may need to take a complete break from rugby league for “longer than a month or two”.
It comes after Cordner on Friday left the NSW team camp to return home after being ruled out for the rest of this year’s State of Origin series, which continues with the return game against Queensland on Wednesday night.
It follows Cordner’s latest head injury suffered in the opening Origin in Adelaide, Cordner’s fourth similar incident this season.
Understandably, there is huge concern across the game for Cordner’s short and long-term welfare, with growing calls that the 28-year-old should be considering retirement.
The NRL is also investigating the decision to allow Cordner to return to the field after he had passed his HIA test in Adelaide.
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It comes as Queensland also made the call to stand down Melbourne prop Christian Welch who also suffered a head knock in the opening game.
Welch had also suffered a head knock in the Storm’s grand final victory and was not allowed to return to play in the Origin opener.
There has been a huge debate about whether Cordner should have been sent back out into the battle despite him passing his HIA test.
Politis wouldn’t buy into the medical debate.
“I don’t want to comment on that, that is not my area,” Politis said.
But the powerful Sydney Roosters chairman spoke from the heart about the conversation he had with Cordner this week.
While every keyboard warrior seems to have an opinion on Cordner’s situation, all Politis cares about is that Cordner gets the best advice and support possible.
“I rang him and said, ‘just be careful’,” Politis said of his phone call on Thursday.
“I said ‘take care, we love you’.”
Politis said he “wholeheartedly” agreed with the decision for Cordner to be ruled out for the remainder of the series.
Asked if he was concerned about the Australian, NSW and Roosters captain’s ongoing health, Politis was upfront: “Well, we are.
“That is why when Robbo gets back (from a family holiday) we will see what happens.
“He might have to take a bit of a break, longer than a month or two. I don’t know.
“We are all concerned about him because he has been playing (for the Roosters) since he was 16.
“I remember actually when he was 16 he was at St Vincent’s Hospital and I went and visited him and I met his dad for the first time, and he had a broken jaw and some other bloody thing.
“That was like at 16, so he has been going 12 years and he plays it tough.
“So he needs a good break.”
Cordner has three years remaining on his multimillion-dollar contract with the Roosters and it has to be a major worry for everyone concerned.
While the game of rugby league has taken huge strides in improving player welfare across the board and especially in relation to head and concussion injuries, the fact is the medical science is improving all the time.
And the standards we have now might not be considered satisfactory in years to come.
Given the medical proof is that each head injury makes a player more susceptible to future incidents, the duty of care surrounding Cordner can’t be overstated.
What is for certain is that Politis said Cordner would be given as much time as he needs to recover.
“Our stance is player welfare should be paramount,” Politis said.
“If that happened at a club level Robbo (coach Trent Robinson) wouldn’t be playing him next week.”
KEARY AXED AS WALKER GETS CALL FOR BLUES
By Nick Campton
Luke Keary has paid the price for NSW’s shock State of Origin loss to Queensland after Blues coach Brad Fittler sensationally dropped the Sydney Roosters star after just one game for his state.
Halfback Nathan Cleary survived speculation he would be the one axed as Fittler opted for a straight swap at five-eighth with South Sydney’s Cody Walker for Origin II at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.
“They (Keary and Walker) came in on par, and they’re both fantastic players and they’re in great form. I just think we’re going to Cody’s ground, he’s been fantastic there this year,” Fittler said.
“I just thought the game was right to put Cody at five-eighth.”
Scroll down to read Nick Politis’s concern for Boyd Cordner
Keary has instead been named as 18th man and may yet be a late inclusion in the side, after Fittler named a four-forward bench, but the call shapes as one of the biggest of the coach’s Origin career.
The Blues were outplayed in the 18-14 loss in Adelaide last Wednesday and must win the remaining two games if they are to complete a third straight series win.
Both Cleary and Keary came under heavy criticism for their inability to convert the Blues’ early dominance into points while Walker helped spark the side when he came on with 20 minutes remaining.
Fittler refused to hang the blame for defeat on his halves but did acknowledge after the match he was disappointed in the Blues lack of ruthlessness when they were on top of the undermanned Maroons.
Keary’s Origin debut was years in the making as untimely injuries delayed his entry to the interstate arena but the 28-year old now finds himself on the outside looking in.
It caps a strong comeback for the Rabbitoh playmaker, who himself was dropped for James Maloney after debuting in New South Wales’ Origin I defeat last year.
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The Blues rallied back to win the series 2-1 and Fittler must be hoping for some similar magic this time around.
The Keary-Walker swap is the only unforced change, with Angus Crichton elevated to the starting side in relief of injured skipper Boyd Cordner who was ruled out for the rest of the series after a head knock in Game I.
Star fullback James Tedesco will take over as skipper.
Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen missed selection but remains in camp as he recovers from a calf injury and could come into the frame for Origin III.
Penrith lock Isaah Yeo, who has been named on the bench alongside fellow debutant Nathan Brown and Melbourne’s Dale Finucane, will act as injury cover.
“He’s (Papenhuyzen’s) still here and he should be right for Game III,” Fittler said.
“Isaah Yeo has played plenty of edge in his career, so if that happens I’d have no problems in moving him out there.
“He’s a very conscientious sort of player and I don’t think he’d let you down at all.”
Both Yeo and Crichton have played in the centres at club level before while Jack Wighton is capable of moving into the halves should Walker or Cleary go down.
Payne Haas and Junior Paulo have swapped places after Paulo started Origin I while centres Wighton and Clint Gutherson have both been retained.
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