NSW captain Boyd Cordner has emerged from another concussion scare in the State of Origin opener against Queensland.
A dazed Cordner, who has suffered three recent rounds of concussion, was helped from Adelaide Oval early in Wednesday night’s clash.
Cordner copped an accidental blow to the head and then hip when he got into an awkward position trying to tackle Queenslander Felise Kaufusi.
The 28-year-old was assisted from the field for a mandatory 15-minute concussion protocol amid fears over his recent history of head knocks.
Making matters worse for NSW, his replacement Cameron Murray limped off shortly after with an apparent knee problem.
But the spotlight remained on the Blues captain.
Pre-game, he shrugged off concerns at his string of concussions – he missed seven games for the Sydney Roosters this season because of head knocks.
The Blues stalwart suffered his first bout of concussion in a round-eight loss to Melbourne.
He returned a fortnight later but copping a knock to the head in training.
Cordner was then sat out for a further five weeks, consulting a specialist about headaches, before returning in round 16.
He suffered yet another knock against Newcastle in round 18.
Cordner came back from that setback in round 20 but was a shadow of himself in the defending premiers’ semi-final loss to Canberra.
It all prompted questions over his future, and a staunch defence of the Roosters concussion protocols by coach Trent Robinson.
In 2018, he suffered a head knock during round four, passed a head injury assessment and returned to the field.
A few months later, in Origin II, he suffered memory loss in a sickening clash with Dylan Napa.
And last year, Cordner stood himself down after what he described as the worst concussion of his career.