By Adam Pengilly
Boyd Cordner has been hailed as a “role model” for his decision to walk away from rugby league after repeated concussions as the emotional Australian, NSW and Roosters captain admitted he wouldn’t have forgiven himself if he suffered another head knock.
One of the game’s most decorated players, Cordner announced his retirement just days after his 29th birthday and became the highest-profile NRL star to end his career due to concerns over his long-term brain health.
He joined Roosters teammate Jake Friend, who hung up the boots after being heavily concussed in the opening round this year, and fellow Queensland representative Tim Glasby, who also retired over ongoing concussion concerns.
Cordner hadn’t played since being concussed during last year’s State of Origin series opener in November and was aiming towards a mid-June NRL return for the Roosters, but realised last week he couldn’t get his “heart and head to align”.
Just a month after the NRL’s crackdown on high contact was launched during Magic Round, Cordner’s decision comes despite a Herald player poll revealing players fearing concussion symptoms are still being hidden, and research supporting the theory.
Cordner fought back tears as he fronted a press conference at the SCG on Monday, attended by his family, the entire Roosters squad, NSW coach Brad Fittler and former teammates Cooper Cronk, Mitchell Pearce, Anthony Minichiello, Wade Graham and Todd Carney.
He described the decision to retire as the “hardest of his life” and insisted he had made it himself – rather than being pushed – with two years still to run on his contract.
Boyd Cordner gets emotional as he announces his retirement at the SCG.Credit: Getty
“Deep down, I knew I wasn’t 100 per cent,” Cordner said. “I was at a stage where I was at full training with the guys and I was very close to 100 per cent, but the feeling of going out and [thinking], ‘What does the next head knock mean?’ ... I couldn’t get that out of my head. If I ever did get another head knock I don’t know if I could have lived with myself.
“The easiest thing for me to do would have been to say nothing, play on and cross my fingers, but I’m really proud because I didn’t think I would be able to say it out aloud and call it. I think I’m more content and proud that I was able to do that.”
Dr Rowena Mobbs, a neurologist and Australian Sports Brain Bank researcher and one of a suite of medical experts Cordner consulted for testing after his concussion late in 2020, said Cordner’s decision was important for the game’s future.
Cordner won three premierships with the Roosters in 2013, 2018 and 2019.Credit: Getty Images
“He’s a good role model to say that the game is important, but it’s not everything and that kids growing up will be able to keep in mind their brain health so they can have an enjoyable career and life beyond the sport,” she said.
“The new age of rugby league is here with a focus on the health of players for brain health, not just their overall condition.”
The Roosters are expected to apply to the NRL for Cordner to be medically retired, which will mean his salary will be excluded from the club’s cap in 2022 and 2023. The club was weighing up whether they could also ask for a full exemption this year given Cordner hasn’t played a game this season and the head knock that ended his career came in a representative game.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis said Cordner’s call would again highlight to players the seriousness of concussion.
“It’s a big issue now,” Politis said. “We’re learning more and more about concussion and it’s going to be in a lot of peoples’ minds. What the league is doing [with the edict on head and neck contact] is the right way to go, now it’s about fine tuning it.
“It’s a sad day, but I think he made the right decision. We were all very emotional, but we half expected it was going to come. He’s been struggling a bit mentally. What else can you ask from him? He’s a beautiful guy, we love him and he will be part of our family for many, many years to come.”
The Roosters have already been rocked by long-term ACL injuries to Brett Morris, Luke Keary and Lindsay Collins this season. Morris confirmed last Monday he had also played his final game, leaving coach Trent Robinson without more than 700 games of NRL experience in the finals run-in due to his retired trio.
Yet to a man they all attended Cordner’s swansong, one of the most emotional days for a club with a rich history.
“Player welfare and player safety has got to be at the forefront of everything and there’s been a lot of talk about the way the game has changed,” Cordner said. “It is changing. But in all of that you’ve got to find a really good balance.
“For me personally with the head highs, all of my concussions and head knocks are from me and my tackling technique. But I do support the NRL in what they’re trying to achieve.”
‘I don’t know if I could have lived with myself’: Emotional Cordner retires due to concussion fears
Boyd Cordner fought back tears and admitted he wasn’t sure if he could have lived with himself if he’d suffered another concussion after retiring due to repeated head knocks.
The Roosters great announced he was hanging up the boots in front of his family, the entire playing squad, former teammates and NSW coach Brad Fittler at the SCG on Monday. Cordner, 29, still has more than two years left on his contract with the club.
One of the game’s most fearless and decorated players, Cordner said he couldn’t get his “head and heart to align” for an NRL comeback after seven months out of the game.
The Australia, NSW and Roosters skipper has not played since being taken from the field for a head injury assessment in the Blues’ series-opening State of Origin loss to Queensland in Adelaide last November.
He will join teammate Jake Friend in putting his long-term health first after the Roosters’ other co-captain retired after a serious head knock in round one.
“It was the hardest decision I’ve had to make and my family and friends know that,” Cordner said.
“Deep down I knew I wasn’t 100 per cent. I was at a stage where I was at full training with the guys and I was very close to 100 per cent, but the feeling of going out and [thinking], ‘what does the next head knock mean?’ ... I couldn’t get that out of my head.
“If I was 100 per cent I would have been back playing last week or this week, I wouldn’t have had those thoughts. I think what I went through at the end of last year had a big impact on me. To be honest, I don’t want to go back there given how far I’ve come.
“I’m healthy and that’s the most pleasing thing. If I wasn’t 100 per cent mentally going back trying to play this game, given how tough it is and fast it is at the moment, then I’m kidding myself. If I ever did get another head knock I don’t know if I could have lived with myself.
“The easiest thing for me to do would have been to say nothing, play on and cross my fingers, but I’m really proud because I didn’t think I would be able to say it out aloud and call it. I think I’m more content and proud that I was able to do that.”
Cordner had hoped to return in round 14, but was not named in the Roosters side that scraped past the Gold Coast 35-34 on Saturday.
He made the decision to retire last week - the same week he celebrated his 29th birthday - after a sleepless night and pondering whether to play on during a scheduled day off.
He told his teammates the news on Monday morning. Fittler, Cooper Cronk, Anthony Minichiello, Mitchell Pearce, Todd Carney, Wade Graham and the Roosters board and management - led by chairman Nick Politis - all attended his retirement press conference.
Asked about his decision to play on after last year’s Origin drama, Cordner said: “As soon as I walked off that field in Adelaide, all I wanted to do was to get back on the field and I was going to do anything I possibly could [to do that].
“I can make peace with that because I left no stone unturned. I’ve got my health and I’m happy.”
Said Fittler: “Boyd was an absolute warrior who wore his heart on his sleeve every time he pulled on a sky blue jumper. He was as tough as any player I’ve ever seen play the game and he was the type of captain who led from the front and inspired other players around him.”
The Roosters have already been rocked by long-term ACL injuries to Brett Morris, Luke Keary and Lindsay Collins this season. Morris confirmed last Monday he had also played his final game.
Cordner played 181 games for the Roosters, 20 Tests for Australia and 16 State of Origin matches. Mal Meninga made him Kangaroos captain after the representative retirement of Cameron Smith. He won three premierships with the Roosters in 2013, 2018 and 2019, the first of which came after he returned from a lengthy injury lay-off to play in the grand final.
“Boyd is a true leader,” Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said. “He captained his club, state and country to great success. He reached the absolute pinnacle of rugby league and leaves the game having done it all – premierships, Origins and World Cups.
“Perhaps most importantly, Boyd is a great person. His friendly and warm personality made him very popular with all he came into contact with. He’s a role model and someone young players aspire to be.”
Cordner’s retirement should allow the Roosters to head into the player market, given he would have been one of their highest-paid players in 2022 and 2023. The NRL will assess whether he will be medically retired once it receives his medical records, which could exclude his salary from the club’s cap.
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