Cordner to create history as captain

SYDNEY Roosters star Boyd Cordner will create history by becoming the first player in 82 years to captain Australia, lead NSW to a series win and skipper a premiership- winning team – all in the one season.

And the last man to achieve the same extraordinary feat was another Eastern Suburbs legend – the Immortal Dave Brown in 1936.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga last night named Cordner as Test skipper after Greg Inglis was suspended for two Test matches after being arrested for speeding and drink- driving.

Inglis was appointed captain and had the honour taken away all in 24 hours.

The Queensland and South Sydney champion was desperate to lead his country and pleaded his case to Meninga yesterday morning, but to no avail.

Meninga and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg imposed Inglis’ two- Test suspension for matches against New Zealand on October 13 and Tonga on October 20.

Inglis was returning from the Koori Knockout in Dubbo when clocked speeding in Lithgow before allegedly returning a mid- range reading of 0.085. He was charged and will appear in Lithgow Local Court on November 22.

Rabbitohs teammate Dane Gagai has replaced Inglis in the Australian squad.

Influential NRL figures were disappointed Inglis didn’t stand down at a media conference at Redfern Oval yesterday. That gave Meninga and Greenberg no option but to step in and make the “difficult” decision.

“Both Boyd and Greg were strong candidates for the captaincy so clearly Boyd was next in line,” Meninga said. “Boyd has had exceptional success as a leader this season.

“He skippered NSW to a State of Origin series victory and also captained Sydney Roosters to a premiership. Being able to captain the Kangaroos will cap a great year for him.”