Dragons 2018: Frizell and Cordner a back-row battle to savour
Local Sport
MATES: NSW teammates Tyson Frizell and Boyd Cordner will go head-to-head in club colours on Sunday. Picture: AAP
THERE’S no shortage of intriguing story lines ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster showdown between the Dragons and the Roosters, but few as mouth-watering as the back-row battle – whether Tyson Frizell makes it onto the park or not.
Frizell missed the Dragons win over the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday with a minor hamstring complaint, but will be looking to return for the crucial clash with the Roosters that will have a major bearing on his sides’ top four aspirations.
Should he take his place on the right edge, he’ll directly oppose NSW and Test teammate Boyd Cordner in a battle between arguably the two best back-rowers in the competition. It’s a head-to-head stoush the Roosters skipper is looking forward to.
“It’s awesome. That’s why I play football, to come up against the best and test yourself against the best,” Cordner told Fairfax Media at the launch of Fox Sports’ Retro Round.
“I love these matches. It’s going to be good, I’ve got a lot of respect for Tyson. We have been roomies before. I know ‘Friz’ quite well and obviously over the time with rep football, NSW, Country, and Australia, we have played a fair bit of footy together and got to know each other pretty well.
“He’s powerful, for a big man he can move laterally really well too. He is strong and experienced now and knows the game really well. He can get himself in good positions at the right times. He has been one of the Dragons best players all year. He is a great player.”
Cordner’s likely to have his hands full regardless, after fellow Blues forward Tariq Sims turned in a barnstorming display against the Cowboys after switching to the right edge to cover for Frizell.
Sims produced a similar effort against Roosters on Anzac Day to spur the Dragons to a 24-8 win that legitimised their title claims.
The round eight loss proved a turning point for the Roosters, who’ve since won eight of 10 games heading into Sunday’s rematch.
With just four points separating fist and eighth on the ladder, the match will have a major impact on both sides top-four chances, with Cordner at a loss to nominate a title favourite.
“Anyone in the top eight [can win]. There has been some teams that have been really good for a few weeks and then another team takes over,” Cordner said.
“Teams also fly under the radar like Melbourne, they are going to be really hard to beat come September. I don’t think there is a real standout right at the moment.
“There’s teams like Souths, Dragons, they have proven that, and obviously Melbourne but anyone in the top eight. Injuries play a big part in that, if you hit form at the right time, anyone can give it a shake.
“[The Dragons] had a good win on the weekend and the last time we played them was on Anzac Day and we'll be looking to get one back on them.”
The Anzac Day defeat put the spotlight on a Roosters attack that was struggling to fire despite the addition of Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco. Coach Trent Robinson threw the blame on his own shoulders in the aftermath, but his side has since posted 20 or more points in seven of their last eight wins.
‘‘We made some significant decisions around that time,” Robinson said of the round eight loss.
“That’s a long time ago. We’re improved but we’re not there yet.”
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...d-cordner-a-back-row-battle-to-savour/?cs=302
