Hailed as a born leader, Boyd Cordner, 24, is the youngest NSW captain in 21 years

THE unpretentious son of a north coast plumber, Boyd Cordner, 24, is the youngest NSW captain in 21 years. And he is just what the Blues need.

FINALLY, we understand why Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson made the call.

Why, after breaking his ankle and sitting on the sidelines for two months, 21-year-old Boyd Cordner’s first game back from the crippling injury four years ago wasn’t in park football, or a handful of minutes from the Roosters interchange bench.

No, Cordner’s comeback match was starting at lock in the 2013 grand final, which, by now we know, the Roosters won.

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Making his return in a grand final didn’t faze Cordner.

“He hadn’t had a game before the grand final,’’ Robinson recalled.

“But as a coach, you make decisions on character, you need to be able to trust players to throw them into situations.

“And with Boyd, you know when he is ready and when he’s not. It was a 12-week injury, but he was back in seven.

“Because there’s a mental strength about him that’s just that little bit more than everyone else. And everybody feels it.’’

Cordner, 24, the unpretentious son of a NSW north coast plumber, will wake on Tuesday as the youngest NSW captain in 21 years.

On Monday night, in front of Blues past greats at The Star, Cordner was unveiled as the third youngest NSW captain behind only Brad Fittler (23 years old in 1995) and current Blues coach Laurie Daley (22 years old in 1992).

The Roosters backrower is ready to lead NSW. Photo: Brett Costello

The elite company Cordner has joined says as much as Robinson’s unbridled respect and willingness, to elaborate on the back-rower’s mental edge he likens to Sonny Bill Williams.

Cordner was truly born to be a Blue.

He was already a household name in Newcastle by the time he was 14. Robinson was working as the assistant coach to Knights head coach Brian Smith in 2007 when he was told to go watch a kid called Cordner.

“Oh yeah, everybody in the area knew Boyd Cordner,’’ Robinson said. “It wasn’t like he was one of those hugely talented, ego-driven, players.

“It was ‘this kid is better than the rest’, but he does it in a way with no airs or graces, just that country style.

“The talk around Boyd back then was, he was older than his years. Which funnily enough, he’s copped for his whole career.

“Even at that age, it was “this guy is different.’’ He’s a leader of players, that was the big thing. He had such an influence of the guys around him.’’

As fate would have it, Robinson would become Cordner’s head coach, after the former surf lifesaving sprint champion signed with the Roosters at the age of 16.

“He’s one of those guys that I don’t have to stay much to him,’’ Robinson said.

“He looks after himself. There’s guys that you have to coach in a way that they push you.

Trent Robinson has hailed Cordner’s qualities. Photo: Gregg Porteous

“I’ve often said that Sonny (Bill Williams) was very similar. You could coach him, but you knew if you were not on point, he’d push you as a coach.

“And Boyd is as well. I know that if I’m going to deliver to him, that he knows footy inside out, so I better get it right.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of Boyd and you can be certain how proud he is too.’’

Which is the same reason why when Daley needed to find a leader to replace retired Blues warhorse Paul Gallen, he turned to Cordner.

“He’s tough, he leads by example, he’s a guy I have a huge amount of respect for,’’ Daley said. “He’ll do a great job for us.’’