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Blues captain Cordner in concussion scare

3 minute read

NSW skipper Boyd Cordner has played on after suffering another concussion scare in the State of Origin opener against Queensland.

BOYD CORDNER.
BOYD CORDNER. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

NSW captain Boyd Cordner will face further concussion testing after another scare in the Blues' shock State of Origin loss to Queensland.

A dazed Cordner, who has suffered three recent rounds of concussion, was helped from Adelaide Oval early in Wednesday night's series opener.

Cordner copped an accidental blow to the head and then hip when he got into an awkward position trying to tackle Queenslander Felise Kaufusi.

The 28-year-old was assisted from the field for the mandatory 15 minutes under concussion protocols amid fears over his recent history of head knocks.

But Cordner returned to action after passing concussion tests.

"I obviously got a head knock, come in and spent some time with the doctor to do the HIA," he said.

"Passed that, was fit to go back on and play, so got back on and played.

"It's not ideal to keep getting head knocks ... but I have the best people around me.

"I have sought the best advice during the year. I will keep doing that, I will keep working with the medical staff."

Making matters worse for NSW in their 18-14 loss, Cordner's replacement Cameron Murray limped off shortly after.

Murray will have scans on a possible hamstring or hip injury while Cordner will also undergo further testing.

Pre-game, Cordner shrugged off concerns at his string of concussions after missing seven games for the Sydney Roosters this season because of head knocks.

The Blues stalwart suffered his first bout of concussion in a round-eight loss to Melbourne.

He returned a fortnight later but copped a knock to the head in training.

Cordner was then sat out for a further five weeks, consulting a specialist about headaches, before returning in round 16.

He suffered yet another knock against Newcastle in round 18.

Cordner came back from that setback in round 20 but was a shadow of himself in the defending premiers' semi-final loss to Canberra.

It all prompted questions over his future, and a staunch defence of the Roosters concussion protocols by coach Trent Robinson.

In 2018, he suffered a head knock during round four, passed a head injury assessment and returned to the field.

A few months later, in Origin II, he suffered memory loss in a sickening clash with Dylan Napa.

And last year, Cordner stood himself down after what he described as the worst concussion of his career.

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