State of Origin: NRL to investigate Boyd Cordner’s head knock

NRL will investigate the NSW Rugby League’s handling of captain Boyd Cordner in the opening State of Origin game.

Boyd Cordner is assisted from the field during Origin I in Adelaide Picture: Getty Images

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys insisted player safety would always be the game’s priority after revealing the NRL had launched an investigation into the NSW Rugby League’s handling of captain Boyd Cordner in the opening State of Origin game.

Already reeling from their shock loss to Queensland in Origin I, the Blues have now been given a please explain over the decision to allow Cordner to re-enter the fray after he suffered a head knock in the first half at the Adelaide Oval.

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Cordner looked unsteady on his feet after attempting a tackle on Maroons forward Felise Kaufusi, but was later cleared by Blues medicos of concussion after undergoing a head injury assessment. The decision left some commentators aghast and sent social media into meltdown given Cordner’s recent history – he has suffered a series of head knocks this season.

“We’ll investigate it because we will never compromise on player welfare,” V’landys said.

“It is paramount. There is nothing that competes with it.”

Blues doctor Nathan Gibbs is one of the most respected medicos in the country and on Thursday revealed that Cordner had breezed through his head injury assessment.

However, Gibbs also conceded the bigger picture was becoming an issue for the Blues captain as he seemingly becomes more prone to head knocks. Gibbs shares the concerns of everyone in the game over the number of blows and resultant assessments that Cordner has been forced to undergo in 2020.

At the same time, he insisted Cordner had cruised through his initial orientation questions and then did the same in the dressing sheds as he underwent further testing. There was no concussion diagnosis and, as such, Cordner was cleared to return.

“Boyd had a head knock tackling when he caught the players elbow or hip and finished the tackle correctly and got up to get back in position but stumbled,” Gibbs said.

“This can be a sign of concussion so he was brought off by the trainer immediately for a HIA. He passed his orientation questions immediately and passed his HIA with no problems so I couldn’t confirm a concussion diagnosis.

“He went back on and played the rest of the game running and tackling strongly without any problems and felt good after the game doing his post match press conference with no issues and checking him today he is good too.

“So no definitive concussion diagnosis. But certainly in the bigger picture he is becoming prone to head knocks and HIA assessments more often so this is more of the concern for him.”

Gibbs believes there is a grey zone in the classifications used by the NRL when it comes to ataxia or lack of muscle control – Cordner seemed unsteady on his feet.

“The important aspect is if you see any possible ataxia you don’t leave them on the field but bring them off to check that they don’t have any concussion symptoms and pass the concussion tests,” he said.

“That is what was done. He was removed and assessed and was okay and went back on and played well and had no further injuries or incidents. So the process and protocols are working well to protect the players.”

Cordner has suffered a series of head knocks this season, prompting the Roosters to give him time off to ensure he made a full recovery. The sense is that he becoming more vulnerable with each blow.

Immortal Wally Lewis has had his own issues in retirement, undergoing surgery to help with epilepsy. He asked the doctors whether rugby league may have had anything to do with it. They told him they couldn’t prove it did. Nor could they prove it didn’t.

“I‘ve enjoyed watching Boyd play over the years, he’s a good honest performer, there’s no shit in him and he’s not a dickhead off the field either,” Lewis said.

“I‘m not medically trained, but your long-term health has got to be the No 1 priority in life. That’s the one thing I’ve learned.

“You get to understand pretty quickly that while football plays a monstrous role in your life, it ain‘t the most important thing there is. It’s the health and wellbeing and happiness of your family around you that has to take over that.

“I expect there will be serious concerns shown from the Roosters. The one thing you should never feel is you let yourself down by making a decision like that. It‘s such a hard call to make.”

The Roosters are comfortable leaving Cordner’s immediate future in the hands of NSW coach Brad Fittler and the Blues’ medical staff. Lewis is happy with that. He won’t be urging Cordner to retire, instead deferring to the expertise of the medical professionals.

”I‘d prefer to leave it to the doctor,” he said.

“If it‘s another serious head knock, he’s certainly one match closer to making that decision.

“All footballers hate retiring. You‘re a long time retired, but it’s not such a long time retired if you’re healthy. That has to be the most important factor.

“I‘m sure it won’t just him that makes any decision. It will be the doctors and family because they will be the ones who take care of him.

“I‘ve seen a couple of blokes who have been battling to pretend they haven’t been affected by it. They can be the finest actors in the country but they are still not able to convince you they’re not doing it tough because they are.

“That‘s a sad thing for rugby league.”