Staying put: Quade Cooper
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Fly-half Quade Cooper has finally ended speculation surrounding his future by signing a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the Reds.
Cooper had earlier rejected an incentive-based contract, which was offered after a turbulent few months during which he criticised the "toxic" environment within the Wallabies and said his rugby career was "on hold".
But the ARU said Cooper, capped 38 times and who plays for the Reds, had re-signed through to the end of 2014.
"Quade can now look forward to getting back on the field next year and playing for the Reds and in turn stake his claim for re-selection in the Qantas Wallabies squad," ARU acting chief executive Matt Carroll said.
The 24-year-old had signed a three-year contract with the Reds earlier in the year, but this was contingent on him holding an ARU contract which was due to expire this month.
Cooper remained close with the Reds during the ARU impasse and Queensland Rugby president Jim Carmichael said the new deal was not a financial decision but about "getting the emotional piece right".
"The ARU has shown great support to bring this to a point where we have the right decision for the game, one of rugby's real talents and Quade's future," Carmichael told Brisbane's Courier Mail.
"Where there might not have been trust and understanding a few months ago, there has been positive dialogue and everyone working towards the same thing.
"I know Quade is in a really good place with what he wants to achieve for the Wallabies, as well as Queensland."
The deal ends months of disagreement between the parties, with Cooper's manager saying in November that negotiations with the ARU had ground to a halt and the player would make his boxing debut in the new year.
At the time, Cooper said he had started boxing as a way of keeping his fitness during rehabilitation from knee surgery and was preparing for a fight on February 8 on the undercard of a Sonny Bill Williams contest.
Comments
isthatrightref says...
@ masterbaiter... I'm hardly a hater, nothing I've posted comes close to some of the stuff on FoxSports, SMH, G&GR to name but 3 oz sites.
I actually have a lot of aroha for the bloke as he's obviously talented & given a bit of self-discipline & better advice from those around him (his Nana seems to talk more sense than his manager, for example) could have developed into a great player. He may yet do so but on the evidence to date, both on- & off-field, I & many others suspect he'll join the ranks of the coulda been greats.
As I've said many, many times: by all means have an opinion & feel free to express it but if you're going to make sh1t up and/ or re-write history you should expect to be challenged.
Posted 11:51 13th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
Not for me to correct someone (must be my teacher hat) His LAST game was the Wales game and was play well until he did his knee, game before was NZ. And only embarrising thing out of that game was the home crowd (notice I didn't use supporters)
isthatrightref:
For a hater of Cooper, you do spend a lot of time on researching him and what he does !!! When is his birthday ? what's his favourite PS2 game ? who was his first girlfriend ? My 8 year old wants to know !!!
Posted 22:21 12th December 2012
2eyedkiwi says...
@trinats4. As good as your last game and playing well until he did his knee? Correct if I'm wrong mate (though I'm guessing you'll correct me either way), but wasn't the last game "Hitman" played before he did his knee the 20-6 loss to the AB's when he had one of the most embarrassing games a Wallabie has ever played??
Posted 23:59 09th December 2012
isthatrightref says...
Small correction: Cooper was done for driving on a suspended licence just prior to the laptop retrieval episode but didn't think to tell ARU: the $7500 fine he copped was for the combined ''negative publicity for the game'' of both incidents.
@ Sincero... that, as they say in these parts, is gold (or in Quade's case yellow).
Posted 06:40 09th December 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ Masterbaiter... odd that they chose the night of Peter Hynes' stag party to do their spot of laptop-retrieving, odd too that they stopped off at a bar or three on the way (refused entry to one at Fisherman's Wharf), odder still that QC tried the old "too drunk to remember, m'lud" trick... oddest of all that he got done for driving on a suspended licence ("too pissed to walk, officer, so I had to drive" anyone?)
Can't wait for your re-imagining of the smashed-cab-window incident...
Regardless of their footballing talent QC & KB are serial offenders off the park & it's hard to see why ARU puts up with them esp after tearing up Lote Tuqiri's contract under the supposed "3 strikes" policy for what were by all accounts strictly in-house incidents, albeit that the last was reported to have occurred in public view.
Must be frustrating for guys like AAC, Genia, Pocock & Moore who give their guts every game, keep their noses clean then get a mic shoved in their face & asked to comment on the latest incident involving one (or sometimes both) of these clowns.
Posted 01:29 09th December 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ ArmchairGeneral... they reckon there's a first time for everything ;-)
Posted 00:01 09th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
"signing a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the Reds"
Has cooper not signed a 3 year deal with the Reds earlier this year ????
It not like PR to get their facts wrong !!!
Posted 12:14 08th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I look forward to all his critics turn hypocrites when he gets back to the wallabies and puts in some beautiful performances that slice up Lions Boks and ABs. Fantastic player such fun to watch play.
Posted 10:15 08th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
isthatrightref:
You are only as good as your last game, and Cooper was playing very well until he did his knee.
Speaking of, good as your last game, you have a a very long wait to get a sniff of success !!!
Posted 09:57 08th December 2012
Irishzimbabwean says...
yet another compelling contribution from jonesy2.
Posted 09:22 08th December 2012
jonesy2 says...
sirtidychris -- well said
Posted 07:08 08th December 2012
jonesy2 says...
great news for the game. anyone who doesnt enjoy watching quade cooper doesnt like rugby or anything remotely entertaining. the more superstars like quade the better. those speaking negatively are simply sad, bitter trolls. i take pity on you. or youre just poms who have no idea what rugby is anyway
Posted 07:06 08th December 2012
Wallaroo says...
Not sure that giving Cooper another chance this soon after his latest outburst is wise, it may be tantamount to fuelling his ingratitude and unrealistic levels of expectation.
Having said this as long as Cooper accepts his responsibilities as a Reds and Wallaby representative; and acts accordingly then I have no issue.
At minimum he should be expected to demonstrate:
- commitment to team work, team bonding and team ethos.
- humility towards learning to adapt to new styles, conditions and leadership.
- that he understands that there is no "right" to play for the Wallabies, it is a privileged role and position.
- an attitude of gratitude for the opportunities and talents he has been given.
This will go a long way to repairing his already soiled reputation.
Posted 03:01 08th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
rugby_phile:
One of the younger Reds development players sold a laptop to a couple of overseas students at his uni, when they didn't pay up "hitman" Cooper and friends when around and took it back. Stupid but not an offence, trespassing was though and was dropped as a charge. No one was paid and the students didn't pay for the laptop.
As soon as the "Toxic environment" has gone we will see Cooper back to his best and people will see what all the hype is about him. I have seen him come up through the school system and rate him as something very special, but what he does off the field lets him down, pity.
Posted 02:57 08th December 2012
Bcfitness says...
Sincero - that was funny.
He did have one good year and still young. Time to stop acting immature, self centered and like a changeroom cancer (Wallabies at least) and earn his dosh.
Maybe they should try him at 15?
Posted 23:45 07th December 2012
isthatrightref says...
A compromise needed to be found as this was doing major damage to Oz rugby BUT this is an insane amount of money to be throwing at a bloke who's on his 2nd knee recon in not much over a year & as recently as 2 weeks ago was openly talking about heading off to France, Japan, wherever: he's now got pretty much everything he wanted except (for now?) choice of coach... all ARU have to show for it is the 2 year deal they originally offered.
I don't see this, & the just-revealed $400K they're giving Israel Falou (salary cap exempt, it seems) going down too well with the other Wallabies, esp those who missed out an ARU top-up themselves & didn't carry on like a spoilt 5-year-old.
@ Masterbaiter... "How does taken back a mates laptop that wasn't paid for constitute "burglary" ??? (no charges)" ?
When you pay an "undisclosed, five figure sum"(Sydney Morning Herald) to the other bloke so he doesn't lay charges. Same trick KB tried with the bouncer, we'll see how that wotks out for him on Feb 6 when it next goes to court...
Posted 23:22 07th December 2012
rugby_phile says...
@trinats2. The official line went something like:
"Cooper's lawyers said the withdrawal of the charge followed completion of a justice mediation process with the complainants, which was conducted through the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. Due to the confidentiality constraints of the justice mediation process, it is not appropriate to comment publicly further now that this matter has been disposed of, and no further comment can be offered."
Sounds like some people (the complainants?) got paid off to me, but you must some incredible contacts.
Anyway that is history, the point is I still don't this he is consistently good enough for test level, and certainly not worth the money. Time will tell. If he cuts the rubbish out and performs on the pitch I will eat my words.
Posted 22:32 07th December 2012
StunTheMullet says...
Damn, I was hoping to have a few laughs at his new found NRL and Boxing careers.
Posted 20:43 07th December 2012
runnrugby says...
Overrated at test level. He hasn't played well against top international teams and when under pressure dances around and gets himself or his team mates into trouble. You cant hide him at the back like you can for the reds
Posted 20:02 07th December 2012
FISH says...
personally i think he's a great player and he seems decent enough to me all round stand up guy and talented player
Posted 17:30 07th December 2012