Off-contract Sydney Roosters forward Boyd Cordner ticks all the boxes for the Newcastle Knights
Pamela Whaley FOX SPORTS December 18, 2015 6:13PM SHARE
NEWCASTLE coach Nathan Brown has made no secret of his interest in the market specifically for a player of Boyd Cordners calibre.
The mass departure of experienced players has left the Knights skint on depth across the paddock, but Cordner ticks all the boxes for the rebuild.
The 23-year-old Roosters star comes off contract at the end of 2016 and Brown admits the club is keen to lure the representative second-rower back home, but his asking price could be a major roadblock.
Boyd Cordner is a local product, hes a very good player and hes young so he fits a lot of ticks for our club, Brown told foxsports.com.au.
Were not interested in buying older players at the moment. Boyd is probably old experience-wise but hes only 23 or 24.
Hes so young and hes local. Hes a player that ticks a lot of areas where were looking to go. Finance will play a part in that, but he definitely ticks a lot of boxes if youre looking at what he brings to this club.
Cordner was born in Taree and played junior football with the Knights before he was spotted by Roosters recruitment manager Peter OSullivan in 2008.
He was quickly snapped up on a three-year deal that Newcastle could not match.
Once again, money could stand in the way of the Knights getting their man.
Cordners manager Dave Riolo denied that the Knights have made a formal offer.
However, Brown has worked with Cordner during Origin camp as the Blues assistant coach and believes he is perfect for where the club is heading.
Although the Knights are rumoured to have a stash of cash left from offloading the likes of Kurt Gidley, Beau Scott, Tyrone Roberts and Chris Houston, Brown said the club is not in a position to compete for star signings.
Brown admitted that while the club is low on depth in the forwards, the backline needs bolstering as well.
The Knights are yet to pin down a number of positions in most areas except for the halves, and Brown said the club could do with an experienced outside back to beef up the stocks.
Although he says he was interested in players such as Tim Lafai, Peta Hiku and James Roberts, there is simply not enough cash in the bank to compete for their signature.
We havent got any money to compete with those guys, from where we sit at the moment, financially were not in a position to compete with some of the other clubs, he said.
All those players are big earners. Were not on the market for that type of player at the moment. Sure, one of them would be nice.
An outside back would be nice, an experienced one, but well shop around and try and find a good younger one who we feel is ready to play first grade now who can also progress forward with the club.
Weve got positions there for 2016 ... our backline is not nailed on, our forward pack is not nailed on, but theres a lot of opportunities at the moment.
Brown said the club is in no rush to sign anyone who becomes available they want to be smart with the way they recruit.
And if they start 2016 with the squad on hand, then so be it.
Im sure there are squads out there who are fairly stable and most people know where they sit, a fair bit of ours will come down to the pre-season and how they trial, he said.
Its a good spot to be in. Weve lost a lot of experience which some people see as a downside, but I think its a positive for the club.
It gives us a chance to make some big changes and to give the younger players an opportunity and that will unfold over the next three or four months.
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