Boyd Cordner has become the third high-profile Sydney Roosters player to retire in 2021, forced out of the NRL because of repeated concussions.
The Roosters, NSW and Australia captain confirmed his retirement at a press conference on Monday morning.
The 29-year-old hasn’t played since sustaining a head knock during the opening game of the 2020 State of Origin series last November.
Cordner returned to the field in that game, but took no further part in the series, won by Queensland.
He stepped away from the game to consider his future with the Roosters hopeful of a round 14 NRL return for their inspirational skipper.
That comeback date passed in the Roosters’ heart-stopping 35-34 win over Gold Coast on Saturday with speculation that Cordner’s comeback had been put on hold.
Cordner joins former club co-captain Jake Friend in retiring mid-season because of concussion issues.
The Roosters farewelled Brett Morris last week after the star winger suffered a career-ending knee injury in early May.
Cordner’s call marks a cruel end to a decorated career.
One of the most reliable players in rugby league, Cordner figured in premierships with the Roosters in 2013, 2018 and 2019.
He led the Blues to Origin series victories in 2018 and 2019 and took over as Kangaroos Test captain in 2018.
Cordner, who was contracted for another two years with the Roosters, will instead end with 181 games for the foundation club, 20 matches for the Kangaroos and 16 Origin games for NSW.
It’s another brutal blow to the injury-ravaged Roosters, who are also without representative stars Luke Keary and Lindsay Collins with long-term injuries.
Cordner’s medical retirement has been cleared by the NRL, according to media reports.
His decision to walk away from the game on health grounds comes with NRL recently launching a crackdown on head-high tackles.
-AAP
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