Sydney Roosters’ Boyd Cordner admits Super League challenge drove him to NRL glory
Aussie back-rower going for the hat-trick after winning the NRL and the World Cup
BOYD Cordner shattered England’s World Cup hopes – now he hopes to end Wigan’s chances of being the best club side on the planet.
And he admits the thought of coming over and playing the World Club Challenge on these shores helped him to NRL success.
The Sydney Roosters ace grabbed the only try in 2017's epic final, which Australia won 6-0.
But as he looks to ruin hopes on the other side of the world when he faces Wigan in Sunday's World Club Challenge, he revealed the thought of doing it behind enemy lines drive him on, even though he has won the lot Down Under in his career.
Cordner said: “This is all the motivation in the world.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in some big games in club and representative rugby but this is the best in the world and I’ve only played in one World Club Challenge.
“It’s the icing on the cake of what was a great season for the clubs. It’s a great opportunity for us and the game to showcase its best teams from either side of the world.
“It’s exciting, it’s the opposite of, ‘Oh no, we’ve got to do that.’
“It’s one of the first things you think of when you win the NRL, even before the Grand Final as you get an opportunity to come over and play in the World Club Challenge, a game us as Australians and the NRL prides itself on.”
Wigan could have a not-so-secret weapon in boss Adrian Lam, who made more than 150 appearances for the Roosters before becoming a junior coach – although son Lachlan will not face the Warriors because of injury.
But back-rower Cordner, 26, added: “Since Trent Robinson took over as coach, he’s put his footprint in it but I’ve known Adrian for a long time, even working with him for Australia, and he knows a lot of people here.
“I looked at him and thought, ‘Why isn’t he a head coach?’ He’s a very smart man and that’s why he’s been around the Australian team.
“Everyone knows how good a player he was but he’s got a really smart brain too.”
