Brian Cody hails departing stars as JJ Delaney was simply ‘the best’

Brian Cody paid a glowing tribute to his retired players yesterday, saying JJ Delaney was the “best defender I have ever seen”. 

Cody admitted to some surprise at the defender’s decision but said he didn’t try to talk him out of retirement.

“I was surprised, yeah, a bit, but not massively either. You never know what players will decide. To the very last ball that he pucked, he just was on top of his game and that’s the way he decided it (would end).