Will Cordner go down as our greatest captain

[Mickie Lane]

I prefer the 1 captain so Artie, Freddie & Hugh McGahn are before him.

[ism22]

3 Premierships thus far, 2 as captain (the other one as vice captain I think?)

IMO he's basically a specialist captain. He's never been our strongest or most gifted player. However, he always shows up and has solutions for the team. One can bag his public speaking but he's like one of those emotionless tradies who only chooses good subbies, puts together the perfect team, does things once, does it on time, does it right and then sorta chortles through his nose afterwards when you compliment him. There isn't a more reliable player in the comp! Smith will own the decade that has been... Cords will be the next definite immortal IMO.

PS - I have NEVER seen a guy with bigger hands!!! I'm one of those freaks who isn't that tall but used to walk up to the cardboard cut-outs of NBA playera as a kid and be like 'hahaha my hand is bigger than Shaq's!!!' Cords has my measure and they are fukking solid too! You would NOT wanna be palmed off by one of those things.

[zac]

I guess the way i judge it is just how the team reacts to his presence on the field.. i remember going to a game in 2003 against the sharks.. we were winning pretty comfortably by 20+ points so Ricky took Freddy from the field early.. almost instantly we started to fall apart and let Cronulla grind there way back into the game.. it was looking so bad that Freddy came back on (never have i seen a player taken off to be wrapped in cotton wool only to be called back onto the field). With Freddy back the team all of a sudden got control of the game again and we went on to win... I remember leaving the SFS thinking "we are in trouble when Freddy retires".

to be fair freddy was a great player and might have had that effect even without the (c).

just playing devil's advocate but why do we assume that cords has had more influence as captain than friendy?

[Random Rooster]

Artie will always be our all time favourite, but Cordner might turn out our best ever captain. He started as a 16-17 y.o. with us and will eventually retire as a Rooster. Has captained us to 2 titles ( won a third with more to come), captained NSW and his country. Inspirational player and captain who says “ do as I do” and not as I say.
I’ve admired what he does for years and I hope that when he retires he has 6 premiership rings and stays involved with the Roosters in some capacity.

Cordner, Beetson and Dave Brown have all won 2 premierships as captain. All 3 have captained Australia....Brown at 22 years of age. Its a triple dead heat as to who is the greatest.

[Tommy Smith]

I guess the way i judge it is just how the team reacts to his presence on the field.. i remember going to a game in 2003 against the sharks.. we were winning pretty comfortably by 20+ points so Ricky took Freddy from the field early.. almost instantly we started to fall apart and let Cronulla grind there way back into the game.. it was looking so bad that Freddy came back on (never have i seen a player taken off to be wrapped in cotton wool only to be called back onto the field). With Freddy back the team all of a sudden got control of the game again and we went on to win... I remember leaving the SFS thinking "we are in trouble when Freddy retires".

I believe this game was vs Penrith away.

We murdered them about 28 nil in the 1st half. Freddy got an early rest after Tony Puletua dumped him on his shoulder. Penrith stormed back to like 28-16 then Sticky unleashed Freddy again who promptly scored to seal the win.

God.

[Steakface]

I think with Cords it'll be a case of what don't know what we've lost until it's gone. The ultimate 1% er player.

I think it's probably the case with Cords, JWH and Friend actually. All three have built their careers at the Roosters and all three play with 100% heart. They have been the cornerstone of the pack all the way from 2013 through to now, the heart of a team responsible for 3 premierships, 2 minor premierships, broken NRL attacking and defensive records, and are the key bricks of the infamous 'Bondi Wall.'

All three will likely retire in short order too.

We'll be left with a gaping chasm when they move on, culturally, spiritually, and in leadership.

I was actually thinking the other day that in hindsight, our 2013 pack is likely the greatest ever to win the comp: JWH - SBW - Cordner - Friend - O'Donnell - Moa - Aubusson - FPN. Imagine if we could have brought Morley over from England on loan for that year (which i think was rumoured incorrectly for a breif time). Any opposition would be shitting their dacks surely.

[IRoosterManI]

I believe this game was vs Penrith away.

We murdered them about 28 nil in the 1st half. Freddy got an early rest after Tony Puletua dumped him on his shoulder. Penrith stormed back to like 28-16 then Sticky unleashed Freddy again who promptly scored to seal the win.

God.

nah it was 100% Cronulla as I remember I was with my uncle who was a sharks fan... did some research and i believe it was Round 22, 2003 where we won 36 - 28.

But the fact that Freddy done it on yet another occasion proves my point even further.

[zac]

I think with Cords it'll be a case of what don't know what we've lost until it's gone. The ultimate 1% er player.

I think it's probably the case with Cords, JWH and Friend actually. All three have built their careers at the Roosters and all three play with 100% heart. They have been the cornerstone of the pack all the way from 2013 through to now, the heart of a team responsible for 3 premierships, 2 minor premierships, broken NRL attacking and defensive records, and are the key bricks of the infamous 'Bondi Wall.'

All three will likely retire in short order too.

We'll be left with a gaping chasm when they move on, culturally, spiritually, and in leadership.

I was actually thinking the other day that in hindsight, our 2013 pack is likely the greatest ever to win the comp: JWH - SBW - Cordner - Friend - O'Donnell - Moa - Aubusson - FPN. Imagine if we could have brought Morley over from England on loan for that year (which i think was rumoured incorrectly for a breif time). Any opposition would be shitting their dacks surely.

well put.
jwh doesn't have a (c) but you'd say he provides inspirational leadership.
rosy case scenario those guys have a few more years left.

[IRoosterManI]

to be fair freddy was a great player and might have had that effect even without the (c).

just playing devil's advocate but why do we assume that cords has had more influence as captain than friendy?

Yes i understand what you mean but from what i can remember it wasnt his skill that took control of the game again (atleast not only that), Cronulla were opening us up all over the field and there was just a feeling we were falling apart... then Freddy came back and it was as if everyone stepped up a gear.. him just being there made a huge difference.

[mattyh]

Freddy was my all time fav rooster, followed by mini, teddy, cords jwh, sbw, morley, ricko, wing Maloney, jennings, rts, tups in no particular order.

[mattyh]

for anyone interested, the voluntary tackle podcast, interviews like Phillips, great podcast btw if your not easily offended check it out

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Love Cords, but seriously Cronk has been our onfield Captain for the last 2 years. I don't understand the need to name someone as the best ever captain, when the teams change so much. Cords will go down as a great Roosters player along with many others, I rate all of them that gave it all for the RW and B.

[Mickie Lane]

Freddy was my all time fav rooster, followed by mini, teddy, cords jwh, sbw, morley, ricko, wing Maloney, jennings, rts, tups in no particular order.

You forgot, Pearcey, Braith & Finchy.

[mattyh]

You forgot, Pearcey, Braith & Finchy.

honestly , I never minded Pearce. whole hearted, all effort , good defender. just decision making on and off field was an issue. finchy and braith weren't really true roosters imo

[Darkone]

You know you have a champion team when Captain Cords turned up to play last Friday
the early rounds saw the headless chooks capitulate and of course the nay sayers looked for blame
You know in your heart of hearts our skipper can carry this team all the way this season
Good skippers help the coach make crucial selection decisions
Every Easts Captain who led a Premiership side deserves our highest honour