Cordner Gives Update On His Origin III Status

NSW captain Boyd Cordner revealed he damaged his left calf muscle early in the series-clinching Origin II win over Queensland but expects to be fit enough to lead the team out at Suncorp Stadium on July 11.

It is the same leg injury which forced Cordner to miss nine club games for the Roosters last season, but he's determined it won't keep him out of Origin III.

"I'm confident I'll be able to get most of the training done during the week," Cordner said after the Blues named their team for the final match of the 2018 Holden State of Origin campaign.

Coach Brad Fittler has named Titans forward Ryan James as 18th man as cover for Cordner.

"I haven't spoken too much to 'Freddy' about it as I've mainly been with Roosters medical staff," Cordner said. "But once we get back there [camp] he will see I'm okay."

The skipper ran for 133 metres from 18 runs and made 22 tackles in the 18-14 win at ANZ Stadium.

Immediately after the game, the concern was over the 77th-minute head knock which forced him from the field with concussion. Few knew he was carrying a sore calf for most of the game. 

"I picked it up early. It wasn't 100 per cent but it was good enough to get through the game, with the adrenalin and all that," Cordner said.

"I've had a bit of time now, since then. Obviously didn't play the [club] game in Adelaide [v Storm last Friday] because of the head knock. So there's a good chance to rest it up and get plenty of treatment on it."

The day after he became an Origin series winner for the first time since 2014, Cordner had little time to let it sink in. He was straight into the Roosters' Moore Park headquarters to work with the medical team.

"I've had soft tissue dramas before, but this isn't too bad. It's not a big concern for me," Cordner said.

"It was worse last year. I'm a fair bit ahead of where I was last year."

But since Cordner has also suffered a few concussions in recent years, is he more concerned for his head than his leg?

"It's more my leg. My head is fine. I had headaches for a couple of days after which was pretty cloudy. But that's not the issue now. It's the leg now.

"But honestly, the leg is sweet. I don't think our first big [NSW] session is until Thursday so there's still plenty of time. It feels good. I think I'll be right."

Since it was such a significant – and emotional – win at ANZ Stadium before thousands of delirious home fans, Cordner assured everyone he remembered most of the game. 

"I remember most of it to tell you the truth, just that last bit where I got the head knock,'' he said.

"I was a bit dazed straight after it. As soon as I was 'coming to' on the sideline before the siren went, it was all coming back.

"The longer it went on I got my memory back. That last four-and-a-half minutes after I came off I don't know what went on there."

Cordner does know he has some sort of knot in his calf muscle – that's the best medical description he could come up with.

"There's like a strain there… they don't grade it these days. Straight up there was something there. But it will be all good."

Origin at Suncorp, there's nothing like it! Game III tickets available here