Reports: Quade Cooper
Related links
Teams
Also see
Reports on Monday claimed that Reds and Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper has decided to quit Australian Rugby.
According to Channel Nine in Australia, Cooper is frustrated after the ARU failed to offer him a top contract as he considers an extension.
Reports suggest he was upset after only being offered match payments by the ARU, as opposed to an annual sum as part of his contract.
Cooper was suspended for three matches and given a major fine after speaking out on Twitter regarding Australia coach Robbie Deans and describing the national environment as "toxic."
He was fined Aus$40,000 ($41,000), plus a further Aus$20,000 suspended for two years, and given a suspended three-match ban for the comments.
After a code of conduct hearing Cooper apologised for his behaviour, which he admitted fell below Wallabies standards.
He has since been linked with a move either to play rugby union overseas, or to switch codes and convert to rugby league in the NRL, along with a possible shock move into the boxing ring.
Comments
new_j4a says...
Hope its boxing. Hope it's televised. Bit harder to avoid contact in the ring, but his 5 reverse gears will be useful. No doubt he'll get SBW to help him pick opponents...down at the homeless shelter. Still, even so, there is a chance that we'll all get to see him get a whomping....if they can find anybody fast enough to catch up with Quadie in his turbo reverse.
Posted 21:53 19th November 2012
Trinats2 says...
Caught in two minds over this.
1/ He is without doubt one of the most exciting players in world rugby (only have to look at all the kiwis whinging about him) and be the Reds recent success. It will be a sad day to see him leave the code.
For all the idiots going on about him boxing ??? he will be fighting people his own weight and not Ma Nonu's or SWB's ???
2/ He should be delighted to be even considered for the Wallabies after his public outburst, take the slap on the wrist an move on. We all know Deans's player managment (lack of it) so I could see Cooper not getting selected at all if Deans is still there (Giteau example). If it's just about money, and he walks out on the Wallaby shirt, take his Aussie passport off him and send him back to toxic NZ.
Posted 21:38 19th November 2012
mime says...
@ Barkerda "he is paid to run and pass( tackling +-)" I suppose 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
As much as I think he is a complete Muppet I believe Qsld will miss him. Did he ever make an impact at international level without Genia at 9 hough? There is a player that the Ozzies can't afford to loose.
Posted 20:57 19th November 2012
isthatrightref says...
Given he's had 2 knee ops in just over 12 months, hasn't played much in between, demanded a 12-month-only deal last year, turned down a full-contract deal this year & then had his "toxic environment" mind-melt it's no real surprise that ARU now regard him as a fringe player who has to play his way into the wobblies & play for match fees etc rather than a top-drawer retainer with extras.
Now has the options of (a) putting in the rehab, honouring his top-dollar Reds contract & performing to a standard that commands a better ARU deal next time around or (b) throwing another tanty, sulking for a year or thereabouts & heading off to who-cares-where (Channel 9 are now reporting Cooper will be on the undercard when SBW fights some over-the-hill saffa in February, so there's a start).
Can't see him as a boxer (if you can't make & take tackles I don't imagine getting punched in the face for a living would appeal), can see him as a fullback in the NRL but suspect that if this isn't just another of Khoder Nasser's cunning stunts he'll end up in Japan or France & good luck to him.
Posted 20:18 19th November 2012
Golden_statenba says...
It's a shame really
He added to the excitement of playing Australia.
Good luck mr Cooper
Posted 19:44 19th November 2012
rakavi187 says...
Good riddance.... what a blight...
Posted 19:36 19th November 2012
KiwiJoe says...
Flash in the pan type player like Henson, but Cooper far better than that hopeless Muppet.
If he takes up boxing will we see him get battered about the ring??
Posted 19:34 19th November 2012
Armchairgeneral says...
An attacking sensation to make SBW look dull. He delivered the magic on the big stage. The best Ozzie back in a generation. Brilliant to watch. Awsome ozzie rugby player. The best since Campese but no quite as arrogant. I think he could fit in well at NH Saints.
Posted 19:31 19th November 2012
sukkadoits says...
Sad for international rugby but an understandable move by the ARU. The most spectacular attacking player since Carlos Spencer, he just hasn't bounced back since his knee injury. Rugby would do well to have an 'Ibrahimovic' type player; arrogant but able to back up every word, sadly Quade hasn't been able to back up his perceived arrogance since the heights of 2011. I guess its a season for the Reds, off to Japan in the summer, then off to France with him. The NRL is too brutal for him at this stage in his career. A great move for him after Super rugby would be to come home and play 1 season ITM for Waikato. A bit more space for him to work and a real brotherly environment would do his game wonders. Waikato needs a quality 10 too.
Posted 19:21 19th November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Barkerda , guys like Benji, Thurston, Slater, Inglis are in a different class altogether to Cooper, don't confuse 5 good games at super rugby level for season after season of class.
Posted 18:56 19th November 2012
davodiablo says...
Thanks for the laughs ...what a great forum post this is!
Posted 18:49 19th November 2012
Isograford says...
Supposedly he may get into Boxing. I dare him to take on Richie McCaw when he's not trapped at the bottom of a ruck for a change.
Quade's yellow jersey was always appropriate.
Posted 18:49 19th November 2012
runnrugby says...
He probably only had one good game at international level against top opposition. Once defenders realized he likes dancing around and throwing crazy passes to get out of trouble it was pretty much all over for him becoming a world class 10.
Posted 18:39 19th November 2012
melkdave says...
Sad news when any talanted player decides to quit,and love him or loath him he was talanted Dont really think he will be wanted in europe truth be told.France will be having quatoas on the amount of overseas players starting soon,and i wouldnt be surprised to see players being released.Rumours already that G.Jenkins will be looking to go home to Wales,along with others.So that only really leaves Japan
Posted 18:21 19th November 2012
Barkerda says...
MASSIVE blow for Qld, Australian and world rugby Quades loss will do nothing for the game. He is THE most talented attacking player in Australia at the moment (Benji Marshall included) who has helped put the game back on the map in Qld with the super championship and the tri nations. He is a significant reason behind Qlds 30,000+ members this season and despite his injury meaning he played very little he still finished 2nd in the people's choice award for Australian rugby.
He was not always on and his latest actions I do not agree with but clearly he had an issue with a coach (who also alienated giteau) who showed his support for QC by picking players of minimal skill around him and ordering a game plan consisting of kicks and little else.
All other comments on here pay attention only to his negative attributes and the associated media coverage. Quade isn't paid to be smart, he is paid to run and pass( tackling +-) its just a shame that he has idiots in his ears who are more interested in their own cut then what is actually best or quade.
Come back soon Quade.....
Posted 17:56 19th November 2012
madraglas says...
While you cannot say players like this don't have talents the game is better off without them. The Coopers, Hensons, etc are the ones who are toxic within their environment. Good luck to ya lad...I'd say there are a few who are keen to chin you in the ring.
On a more interesting note does anyone know what these square pads are above the number of the back of the shirts this season? Seen them on a few shirts and it seems to be sewn into the shirt. Is it GPS? a remote control device?
Posted 17:43 19th November 2012
paulynz says...
Mind the door doesn't clip you on the arse on your way out...
Posted 17:31 19th November 2012
Spartacus says...
The major benefit of QC is that he winds up NZ so much, for reasons I cant entirely fathom. Other than that, dont really care whether he plays or not.
Posted 17:13 19th November 2012
Gleek says...
As a fan of both codes I think he will be a better fit in the NRL. Union is becoming more of a tactical long game and a good outside half need sound judgement first (something Cooper lacks on and off the field) and a good skill set second (something he has in abumdence).
Unlike some here I wish him well in the NRL. He will be a poor man's Benji Marshall. Which will be good enough for that league by more than half.
Posted 14:19 19th November 2012
Jediboy says...
No player s bigger than the game. Or the team. Players like Cooper would be advised to remember that.
Posted 13:29 19th November 2012