Cordner on track for Blues recall

959 views
  • Video
  • Image

NRL: Blues hopeful Bryce Cartwright has made it impossible for Laurie Daley to overlook him for Origin three.

Boyd Cordner was forced to watch Origin II from the sidelines.

NSW are expected to welcome back game one players’ player Boyd Cordner whose recovery from a serious toe injury has been fast-tracked by revolutionary treatment.

There were fears Cordner’s season was over after he hurt his toe after starring for the Blues’ in Origin I. But Cordner has responded well to treatment, and is expected to be sidelined for at least one more game, putting him in the frame for an Origin recall.

The Blues back-rower had injections of his own heated up blood into his toe — a treatment called Orthokine. He started running on a treadmill last week as he steps up his bid for an Origin recall.

Boyd Cordner was forced to watch Origin II from the sidelines.

Boyd Cordner was forced to watch Origin II from the sidelines.Source:News Corp Australia

It was a similar treatment undertaken by Blues teammate Robbie Farah last year, which allowed the NSW hooker to play the opening two games despite suffering a shoulder injury in game one which should have sidelined him for a month.

Cordner will be racing the clock to play for the Roosters in their round 17 clash against the Bulldogs next Thursday, which will be his last chance to play an NRL game before the team is selected.

If he does not play, Cordner will rely on Blues coach Laurie Daley picking him without having played a game for six weeks by the time he runs out for Origin III.

The Blues will also have centres Josh Dugan and Josh Morris available after the pair were late withdrawals following training mishaps for game one and two respectively.

Dugan’s return will also come too late for the Blues.

Dugan’s return will also come too late for the Blues.Source:AAP

Dugan made his return for St George Illawarra against Newcastle on Saturday. Wade Graham is also in line to make his Origin debut after suspension rubbed him out of Wednesday’s series deciding loss to Queensland.

Cordner’s Roosters teammate Mitchell Pearce will also get a chance to push for an Origin recall when he returns from a calf strain to play the Bulldogs on Thursday night, with the Roosters having the bye this week.

Consecutive strong performances by Pearce could see him come into contention to replace the injured Adam Reynolds. Pearce has been sidelined since the Roosters round 11 loss to Canterbury, which was just his third game of the year.

Pearce’s Origin halves partner of last year Trent Hodkinson plus rookie Jack Bird are potential replacements for Reynolds.

Author Bio

Alonesports

No Description or Default Description Here