The Gold Coast Bulletin

Close call on Cordner for Origin decider

- MATT ENCARNACIO­N

NSW coach Laurie Daley could make a call on Boyd Cordner for the Origin decider as soon as today as the Blues sweat on their skipper’s fitness.

Cordner was let loose for the first time since Game Two yesterday when the Rooster had an opposed run against Gold Coast’s under-20s team.

The first-year captain played most of the hour-long session, however Daley said he wanted to see how Cordner’s calf responds today.

“He did most of the session so things are looking positive but again, we’ve got to wait until how he pulls up and we’ll get a better indication,” he said.

“He ran yesterday and then we upped the ante again and we just need to see how it comes through that.

“There’ll be plenty of treatment ... and then by (today) we’ll know either way.”

Daley admitted not being confident of Cordner’s chances for the Suncorp Stadium clash when the team convened for camp in Kingscliff last week.

But he is adamant they wouldn’t be risking an underdone Cordner in the clash.

“I think he’s a good hope. I probably was a bit doubtful at the start, but the way that he trained yesterday, and upped the ante today at training was a real surprise for us,” he said.

“We need him at 100 per cent and we’ve got to give him that time. He’s our captain so we want him out there but again you can’t take risks with these type of injuries.

“You want him to have in his mind that he can get through 80 minutes and hence two days of back to back running, we’ve put him under a bit of pressure, and he’s responded really well.”

Daley said he had already made up his mind on who would step up in Cordner’s absence, with Aaron Woods, James Maloney and Josh Jackson in the captaincy frame.

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