It’s been a year to remember for Boyd Cordner and the outstanding Sydney Roosters back-rower is determined to cap it off by playing a significant role in helping Australia win back the Rugby League World Cup.
The 21-year-old began the 2013 NRL season with a reputation as a highly promising young player and by the end of it had played for NSW Country and NSW, won a grand final and been named in the Kangaroos squad to fly to the UK and Ireland.
Cordner is one of three rookies in Tim Sheens’ squad along with Josh Papalii and Andrew Fifita but says he has no intentions of just making up the numbers when the team arrives at camp in Manchester on Tuesday.
“I can’t believe this year, it’s been unreal, I do have to keep pinching myself,” Cordner told AAP.
“At the start of the year my target was to make the Country side and had that been my lot I would have been happy.
“But to play Origin, win a grand final and now play in a world cup, it’s just been unbelievable.”
Cordner missed the last six weeks of the season with an ankle ligament problem before coming back to play in the grand final and although he admits he was slightly off the pace in the decider against Manly, the enforced break allowed his time to freshen up.
“No-one wants to be injured and I did everything I could to be fit to play in the preliminary final against Newcastle but was held back by Robbo (Trent Robinson),” he said.
“But the break means I’ll head into camp feeling pretty fresh but my aim is to hopefully break into the 17 for the first Test.
“It will be tough as there is a lot of great players in the side who have been around a very long time.
“I’d love to get a place on the bench, but competition is going to be very tough, but that’s what you’d expect from a Kangaroos side going to a world cup.”
The trip will be Cordner’s first to the UK and he’s determined to relish every single moment of the seven weeks away alongside some of the best players in the world.
“Luckily I didn’t have anything planned holiday-wise because we had the grand final and I just didn’t get round to booking anything,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great trip and I am looking forward to getting to know guys like Cam (Smith) and Billy (Slater) and also the chance to see some new places and play in different stadiums.
“To win a world cup would just cap off the best year ever.”