The FRONTROUND 15 2021 ROW VOLUME 2 · ISSUE 15 TIME TO SAY GOODBYE BOYD CORDNER'S DECORATED CAREER COMES TO AN END INSIDE: NRL Round 15 program with squad lists, previews & head to head stats, Round 14 reviewed THE FRONT ROW FORUMS AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST RUGBY LEAGUE DISCUSSION BOARDS HAVE A FRESH NEW LOOK! Check it out now... forums.leagueunlimited.com THERE IS NO OFF-SEASON 2 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 15 What’s inside From the editor THE FRONT ROW - VOL 2 ISSUE 15 Tim Costello From the editor 3 It's Beanies for Brain Cancer Round! The annual round was the brainchild of Matt Callander, who was working at Channel 9 and Feature Boyd Cordner retires 4-5 bravely battling Stage 4 Glioblastoma, and lost his battle with Feature NRLW expansion 6-7 brain cancer in October 2017. NRL Ladder, Stats Leaders. POTY standings 8 If you're lucky enough to be attending an NRL game this round, make sure you support the cause by buying a Beanie GAME DAY · NRL Round 15 9-25 (if available), making a donation - or if you can't, you can even LU Team Tips 9 fundraise. Head to www.markhughesfoundationa.com.au or see the ad on the back page of this magazine for more. THU Brisbane v South Sydney 10-11 This week there's been a couple of significant news pieces - and FRI North Queensland v Cronulla 12-13 we've got them covered. First up we look at the retirement of Roosters captain Boyd Cordner after repeated concussions kept Penrith v Sydney 14-15 him out of the game for much of the last couple of seasons. SAT Newcastle v Warriors 16-17 We've also got the details from the NRL on the upcoming NRLW St George Illawarra v Canberra 18-19 season - the competition will welcome three new teams in Newcastle, Gold Coast and Parramatta - and say goodbye (albeit Melbourne v Wests Tigers 20-21 temporarily) to the Warriors due to the struggles with keeping a SUN Parramatta v Canterbury 22-23 squad together during COVID-19 travel restrictions. Gold Coast v Manly 24-25 You can read all that plus the full match programme for the round ahead by flicking through the pages that follow. Thanks NSWRL Teamlists 26-27 for your readership - and happy reading! Knock-On Effect NSW Cup R15 26 Jersey Flegg Cup R15 26 Harvey Norman Womens' Premiership R15 26 Ron Massey Cup R15 27 The FRONT ROW Sydney Shield R15 27 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS QRL Teamlists 28 We’d like to thank RugbyLeagueProject.org for their support and use of Intrust Super Cup R11 28 various statistics throughout this publication. U21 Hastings Deering Colts R9 28 Magazine content originally appears on LeagueUnlimited.com © 2021 UK Watch 29 unless otherwise noted. Interested in advertising with The Front Row or LeagueUnlimited.com, or just want to provide feedback? Contact us NRL Round 14 Wrap 30-33 by email [email protected] Match Centre: NSWRL & QRL results 34-35 Cover image courtesy NSWRL (supplied 2020) NRL Match Review & Judiciary - Round 14 35 MANAGERS Steven Williams & Coby Delaney EDITOR Tim Costello 2021 NRL Draw 36-37 CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Ferguson Robert Crosby Andrew Jackson Adam Huxtable Jason Hosken Justin Davies Emile El-Azar Lachy MacCorquodale Sam Bourke Josh Robertson Rick Edgerton LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 15 | 3 END OF THE ROAD BOYD CORDNER BECOMES THE THIRD ROOSTER TO CALL TIME ON HIS CAREER IN 2021 et's be honest - we all saw this one coming a "Boyd is one of the greatest leaders of men I have mile away. Roosters and NSW captain Boyd seen," said Trent Robinson, who coached Cordner from LCordner has chosen retirement this week after the 2013 premiership winning season through to his a fantastic rugby league career. last game in the Tricolours in 2020. Battered by repeated concussion injuries, 29-year-old "At any level of the game, I'm sure that every player Cordner has made the difficult, gut-wrenching decision who ever stood alongside Boyd would thank him for that he won't pull on the boots as a professional player being the teammate and leader that he was." again. Ever humble, the retiring captain was quick to throw "For once in my life and my career I had to put my own focus onto those who made his journey possible - health and happiness first," Cordner told the media this including Robinson. week announcing his decision. "I'm so fortunate to have been coached by you for "The easiest thing for me would've been to say nothing pretty much my whole career. You made me a better and play on. But I know now that this is the toughest player and a better man," Cordner said of his mentor. thing that I've had to do. He also singled out assistants Travis Touma and Craig "Deep down I knew I wasn’t 100% fully recovered. I Fitzgibbon, as well as his teammates, who he said it was at a stage where I was at full training with the was an honour to play alongside and captain. guys and I was very close to 100%, but the feeling of going out... ‘what does the next head knock look like for Like any retiring player, Cordner was at pains to me?’ ... I couldn’t get that out of my head." emphasise the support of his family. Cordner - Roosters player #1119 - made 181 "Most importantly, to my family, especially my partner appearances for the Tricolours since debuting mid- Jemma and my dad Chris. You've always been there season in 2011. for me, been in my corner, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you've done for me over the His skill and courage in the back row earned him 16 years," said Cordner. caps for the NSW Origin team, including captaining the winning 2018-19 squad; and he represented Australia Boyd retires with three NRL premierships (2013, 20 times between 2013 and 2019. 2018 and 2019, the latter two as captain), three Origin shields with the Blues (2014, 2018 and 2019) and two Rugby League World Cup trophies (2013 and 2017). 4 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 15 STORY BY TIM COSTELLO IMAGE NSWRL LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 15 | 5 POWER OF SIX NRLW EXPANSION CONFIRMED AS WARRIORS TAKE A BREAK he NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership (NRLW) The majority of NRLW matches will be played as double will expand to 6 teams in 2021 with the headers on the same day as NRL Telstra Premiership Tobjective of expanding to 8 teams in 2022. matches to maximise exposure for the competition. In 2021 the NRLW will see the Gold Coast Titans, After being part of the foundation four clubs who Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels join the entered the competition in 2018 the Warriors will not competition. participate in the 2021 season because of uncertainty surrounding borders. The Australian Rugby League Commission approved the expansion which will see the new clubs join the The club is committed to returning to the competition Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons and next year. With the framework established for the Sydney Roosters for NRLW 2021. 2021 season the NRL will work with the playing group and clubs on a contracting model. NRLW will commence alongside Round 23 of the Telstra Premiership, with each team playing each other once NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the expansion and the top four teams playing in semi-finals. highlighted the success and growth of the women’s game. The Grand Final will continue to be played on the same day as the NRL Grand Final. “Today is a really special day for the game. Women’s rugby league is the fastest growing part of our The number of games will increase from 7 to 18 this sport and it’s exciting to be in a position to expand season and the number of playing weeks will increase the competition after the success of the last three from 4 to 7. seasons,’’ he said. 6 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 2 ISSUE 15 MEDIA RELEASE NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE “The NRLW competition has produced some of the “The continued expansion of the NRLW Telstra best athletes in Australia, it’s captivated a new fan Premiership is something we are so excited to see base and today’s expansion will give more players the as it provides greater opportunities for aspiring opportunity to play in an elite competition.” professional female athletes to forge a career and gives fans of the game more action to watch, and greater Mr Abdo said the Commission was prioritising connection to the supporters in Newcastle, Gold Coast, investment in growing the women’s game at all levels. and Parramatta,’’ said Genelle Sharples, Principal, Media Sponsorship & Awards at Telstra. “Now that we have a really solid base, thriving State competitions and investment in expanding the game Mr Abdo thanked the Warriors for the participation in from the bottom up, I cannot wait to see the NRLW go the NRLW competition. to a new level across 7 weeks and 18 games. “The Warriors were part of the first four clubs to “I want to thank the Titans, Knights and Eels for their join the NRLW competition and we are grateful for commitment to women’s rugby league. It’s an historic the commitment they made right from the start, day for all clubs and an exciting day for their fans and particularly during the pandemic last year.