BOYD Cordner will become the third Greater Taree product to play State of Origin when he trots on the field for game three against Queensland tonight at ANZ Stadium.
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Cordner, 21, a back rower for the Sydney Roosters, was elevated to the final 17 for the series decider. He will start from the bench.
Cordner was initially called into the team as back-up for lock Greg Bird but has since replaced Canterbury's Josh Reynolds.
Reynolds was in the squad for the first two games but has played just 14 minutes. He didn't get onto the field for game one. Cordner, Andrew Fifita, Trent Merrin and Anthony Watmough will now be on the bench for the sold out encounter.
From Old Bar, Cordner was initially part of Newcastle's junior system before he was snapped up by the Roosters when he was 16.
Matt Adamson and former NSW captain Danny Buderus are the other Greater Taree footballers to play State of Origin. And Adamson will make a one-off comeback game for Taree City against Wingham on Saturday as part of a promotion to help the Can Assist organisation,
Cordner said the influence of Sonny Bill Williams at the Roosters has helped his game.
"Going to training, I'm still starstruck," he told SBS. "Growing up he was my idol I suppose he was every kid's idol.
NSW assistant coach Trent Barrett and Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon have both backed Cordner to handle the step up in class.
"It's his size, his footwork he's mobile, he's got good hands, he's tough, he competes,'' Barrett said. "Nothing fazes him. He's just one of those players. He reminds me a bit of Ben Kennedy. He's tough and he can play with the football.''
"He was earmaked at such a young age as a future rep player and he's done nothing to disprove it,'' Fitzgibbon said.
