Aussie defender Cornthwaite brings scoring boots to Selangor in Malaysia
Former Australia centre-back Robbie Cornthwaite, seen here with wife Nel and daughter Sahara, has helped Selangor contend for MSL honours this season.
No matter where he goes, Australian centre-back Robbie Cornthwaite manages to score crucial goals. From the A-League, to the K-League and now in Malaysia's top flight, the beanpole defender continues to defy expectations to regularly find the back of the net.
Kuala Lumpur is the latest footballing destination for the man who was born in Blackburn, Lancashire but grew up in Adelaide. Teaming up with former Melbourne Victory head coach Mehmet Durakovic, Cornthwaite has helped faded glamour club, Selangor, contend for Malaysia Super League (MSL) honours this season.
Cornthwaite arrived just as Selangor acrimoniously parted ways with last season's top scorer Paulo Rangel, and several other key players, amidst predictions of a doomed campaign. And yet, the Red Giants had a chance to go top of the table last weekend when they hosted Pahang.
The Shah Alam Stadium crowd saw Selangor take the lead through a Cornthwaite header in the fifth minute after a free kick from Indonesian winger Andik Vermansyah, for his third goal in as many games. But reigning Malaysia Cup champions Pahang, inspired by former Fulham defender Zesh Rehman, scored three times without reply in the second half to grab a precious away victory.
Even so, fourth-placed Selangor have produced a more than respectable campaign with Cornthwaite the latest of a long line of Aussie imports -- Durakovic, David Mitchell and Alistair Edwards are among the others -- to have made a mark.
"I think so far things have gone very well," 29-year-old Cornthwaite, who has contributed five goals in all games this season, told ESPN FC. "The last few weeks I have been able to get on the scoresheet and that always helps. We are having a very competitive season and want to be challenging for the title come season's end."
At six-foot-five, Cornthwaite, standing second from left, is one of the tallest and most imposing defenders in the MSL.
Asia seemed an obvious career choice for Cornthwaite after his powerful performances caught the eye in Adelaide United's unlikely charge to the 2008 AFC Champions League (ACL) final.
It took him less than three minutes to notch Adelaide's opening goal in their first ACL match against Pohang Steelers. He also grabbed the winner in the quarterfinal second leg as the South Australian side prevailed over Japanese powerhouses, Kashima Antlers.
And then, after scoring twice in six games in Adelaide's 2010 ACL campaign, he was signed by South Korea's Jeonnam Dragons in March 2011 as part of a wave of Aussie central defenders to the K-League that included Sasa Ognenovski, Alex Wilkinson and Luke DeVere.
Initially, Cornthwaite found the transition difficult as he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter for the mid-table K-League side. But over four seasons, he played 91 games -- scoring seven goals -- and was occasionally used as an impact striker off the bench.
"Going to Korea where they are so disciplined, fast and technically good, was the best decision I could have made in my career," he said. "It gave me the opportunity to develop my game to a level that I never knew I had and provided me with a platform to go and represent the Socceroos."
In November 2012 when Australia played South Korea in a friendly in remote Hwaseong, the man affectionately known as 'Coni' across the peninsula, was brought into the squad as a late injury replacement. He ended up playing the full game, scoring a 90th minute winner to give the Socceroos a rare victory over the Taeguk Warriors.
Scoring three times in eight appearances -- most recently two years ago -- Cornthwaite has triple the international goals of former captain Lucas Neill (96 caps) and has better strike rate than forwards Tomi Juric and Robbie Kruse. But he admits he isn't checking his iPhone for messages from Socceroos' boss Ange Postecoglou.
"We all love to dream of playing for our country but I think that boat has sailed," he said. "I am extremely proud of my time with the national team and no one can take that away from me. It was great to see Australia win the Asian Cup, with good mates in the team like Mathew Leckie, who lived at my house when he first arrived at Adelaide United, and Nathan Burns with whom I started my A-League career."
Cornthwaite admits that having the Australian connection through coach Durakovic -- capped 64 times -- has smoothened his transition to Malaysian football. He lives with his wife Nel and baby daughter Sahara in a luxurious apartment, a short drive from the Shah Alam Stadium.
Playing under former Australia defender Mehmet Durakovic has made Corthwaite's transition to Malaysian football easier.
"Mehmet and I knew of each other but had never crossed paths in Australia but it has been great having him here with a very similar mentality," Cornthwaite said.
"He is a Selangor legend who also played as a centre-back so if I can walk in his footsteps a little and achieve some success it will go a long way to repaying the faith he has put in me."
Compared to Durakovic's compact and mobile frame, Cornthwaite is one of the tallest and most imposing defenders in the MSL, at six-foot-five. He had an absorbing duel with England striker Harry Kane as the Malaysia All Stars took on visiting Tottenham Hotspur on May 27, with the London outfit winning 2-1 after Kane scored the winning goal.
"It was the first time I've come up against Premier League opposition and I thought we played quite well and were unlucky not to get a result," he said. "I managed to have a chat with Harry Kane throughout the first half and swapped shirts with Christian Eriksen." He's also tipped to be part of the Malaysia All Stars to face Liverpool in Kuala Lumpur on July 24.
It might feel like the little boy trying to plug the overflowing dyke at times, but Cornthwaite is getting accustomed to dealing with the abundance attacking talent opposing him -- now that Malaysian clubs are allowed to play four import players in any match.
Selangor's next assignment is an away game on July 13 at defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim, who are second on the table and desperate to keep pace with leaders Pahang. Their potent strike force includes ex-Argentina forward Luciano Figueroa and Malaysia internationals Safee Sali and Amri Yahyah.
But Cornthwaite is relishing the challenge as he enjoys every second of his Malaysian adventure.
"The biggest difference to my life in Korea is that we have a six month old baby now," he said.
"But the lifestyle here is fantastic and moving from Korea to Kuala Lumpur where English is widely spoken makes things a lot easier. We are having a very competitive season so football-wise things have been good too. I've really enjoyed it so far."
And MSL fans have enjoyed the all-action style of the ungainly goal machine whose professional career began with Adelaide City more than a dozen years ago.
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