Sydney Roosters captain Boyd Cordner reveals revolutionary stem-cell procedure on his knee was a success

SYDNEY Roosters captain Boyd Cordner has revealed his stem-cell knee procedure was a success and he is set to return to training early next month.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 23: Boyd Cordner of the Roosters is tackled during the round four NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on March 23, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

SYDNEY Roosters captain Boyd Cordner has revealed his stem-cell knee procedure was a success and he is set to return to training early next month.

As Newcastle prepare to launch a bid for the NSW Origin captain, Cordner has been dealing with uncertainty over a debilitative knee injury.

However, these concerns have been tempered following a revolutionary stem cell injection after Australia’s successful World Cup campaign.

Surgeons injected Cordner’s own fat tissue — via liposuction — into the affected tendon.

The Roosters back-rower hopes the stem-cell procedure will accelerate the regeneration of damaged cartilage in his knee.

Cordner has battled knee injuries over the last two years.

Injuries, including a ruptured pectoral, have limited Cordner to just 30 games for the Roosters in the past two seasons.

Cordner remains confident of a full recovery to start the 2018 season.

“I’ll be at training on the 5th of January and I will ease back into it,” Cordner told The Sunday Telegraph.

“But I’ll be in full training by the end of January.

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“I didn’t have to have surgery. It was just a stem cell injection, so I didn’t have to go under the knife at all. It is going really well.”

Cordner’s Kangaroos teammate Aaron Woods had the surgery in 2013 and said it had helped resurrect his career.

Trent Hodkinson and Cordner’s new Roosters teammate James Tedesco have also had success with stem cells to repair injured knees.

It comes as the Roosters have started talks to re-sign Cordner on a multi-year deal to fend off strong interest from Newcastle and the Gold Coast.

The Roosters want Cordner to stay beyond 2018.

Corner is off-contract at the end of 2018 and the Roosters want to secure his services long-term.

The only problem is they face a fight with the Knights keen to land his signature.

Cordner was born in Taree and played his junior league for the Red Rovers and the Old Bar Pirates.

These Hunter connections have prompted Newcastle coach Nathan Brown to court the representative back-rower for several seasons.

It’s understood the Knights’ influx of former Roosters, including Mitchell Pearce, Connor Watson and Aidan Guerra, will play a leading role in trying to lure their former teammate to the red and blues in 2019.