He may be just one Test in to what many are predicting to be a rugby league lifetime in the green and gold and already Boyd Cordner looks set to become a permanent fixture in the match day seventeen, following the loss of his roommate Luke Lewis to a shoulder injury.
Lewis suffered a dislocated shoulder after colliding with an advertising hoarding attempting to chase down a try in Australia's 32-point win over Fiji on Saturday night and has, this morning, been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament by Kangaroos Medical Staff.
Cordner, including the now injured Lewis, is one of eight backrowers in Tim Sheens squad and looks now to be locked in a battle with the likes of Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans), Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders) and Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos) for the vacated bench-role, assuming that regulars Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans), Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sutherland-Sharks) and Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos) retain their spots.
Cordner ran for 75 metres and made 21 tackles in an impressive Test debut off the bench at Langtree Park and, after claiming the Dally M Second Rower of the Year Award this season over those hes now competing with is being touted as the perfect replacement for Lewis.
Similar in their workhorse style and ability to play on both the left and right edges and in the middle of the field, Sheens looks set to hand Cordner an audition for the role permanently when the Kangaroos face Ireland in their final Pool match on November 9.
When asked about whether or not he saw himself as the replacement, a typically team-focused Cordner was quick to avoid the question and point out that his worry was with Lewis health and not himself.
"I'm rooming with him (Lewis) and class him as one of my best mates," Cordner told AAP.
"To see him go down like that and the way it happened, it's shocking. I'm a bit angry actually to see a mate go down like that.
"He's such a good bloke and he doesn't deserve it to happen to him but he'll be right."
After being named a vice-captain by Trent Robinson before the start of the 2013 season, debuting for Country in their annual clash with City, then earning an Origin call-up for the first time and overcoming what looked to be a six month injury in just six weeks to star in the Premiership victory over Manly on October 6, Cordners season could be described as one of the most impressive breakthrough years the NRL has ever seen.
However, that title could all but be confirmed with selection in the Kangaroos side come Finals time at this years World Cup.
But, is Cordner ready to go from Boyd to Man and make the step up to international football on a regular basis?
Roosters Recruitment Manager Peter OSullivan, the man who brought him to the Roosters, certainly thinks so.
Simply put, yes, he said when Roosters.com.au posed the question to OSullivan.
Continuing on, he would be in any side I was in control of for the rest of his life; Australia, NSW and any Club side.
I think we saw the faith that people have in Boyd in Robbos decision to not only bring him back for the Grand Final, but also to start to him after the time out he had with the injury.
No argument here. Boyds now the Man.
Photo supplied by SWpix.com
Lewis suffered a dislocated shoulder after colliding with an advertising hoarding attempting to chase down a try in Australia's 32-point win over Fiji on Saturday night and has, this morning, been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament by Kangaroos Medical Staff.
Cordner, including the now injured Lewis, is one of eight backrowers in Tim Sheens squad and looks now to be locked in a battle with the likes of Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans), Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders) and Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos) for the vacated bench-role, assuming that regulars Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans), Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sutherland-Sharks) and Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos) retain their spots.
Cordner ran for 75 metres and made 21 tackles in an impressive Test debut off the bench at Langtree Park and, after claiming the Dally M Second Rower of the Year Award this season over those hes now competing with is being touted as the perfect replacement for Lewis.
Similar in their workhorse style and ability to play on both the left and right edges and in the middle of the field, Sheens looks set to hand Cordner an audition for the role permanently when the Kangaroos face Ireland in their final Pool match on November 9.
When asked about whether or not he saw himself as the replacement, a typically team-focused Cordner was quick to avoid the question and point out that his worry was with Lewis health and not himself.
"I'm rooming with him (Lewis) and class him as one of my best mates," Cordner told AAP.
"To see him go down like that and the way it happened, it's shocking. I'm a bit angry actually to see a mate go down like that.
"He's such a good bloke and he doesn't deserve it to happen to him but he'll be right."
After being named a vice-captain by Trent Robinson before the start of the 2013 season, debuting for Country in their annual clash with City, then earning an Origin call-up for the first time and overcoming what looked to be a six month injury in just six weeks to star in the Premiership victory over Manly on October 6, Cordners season could be described as one of the most impressive breakthrough years the NRL has ever seen.
However, that title could all but be confirmed with selection in the Kangaroos side come Finals time at this years World Cup.
But, is Cordner ready to go from Boyd to Man and make the step up to international football on a regular basis?
Roosters Recruitment Manager Peter OSullivan, the man who brought him to the Roosters, certainly thinks so.
Simply put, yes, he said when Roosters.com.au posed the question to OSullivan.
Continuing on, he would be in any side I was in control of for the rest of his life; Australia, NSW and any Club side.
I think we saw the faith that people have in Boyd in Robbos decision to not only bring him back for the Grand Final, but also to start to him after the time out he had with the injury.
No argument here. Boyds now the Man.
Photo supplied by SWpix.com
