Forget the money, Cooper should stick with the Reds

 

By , 21 Apr 2010 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert

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Quade Cooper

Reds Quade Cooper is tackled by Chiefs Brendon Leonard in a Super 14 Rugby match, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand, Friday, March 05, 2010. AAP Image/NZPA, Wayne Drought.

The Australian’s rugby writer, Wayne Smith, is a passionate supporter of the Queensland Reds. Only Greg Martin among the rugby media personalities matches his Reds-eyed view of the rugby world. Smith, accordingly, has written a characteristically passionate article advising Quade Cooper to stay true to the Reds.

The opening paragraph of the Smith story gives a flavour of his argument: “Quade Cooper needs his head read if he thinks mere money will compensate him for what he would lose if he walked out on Queensland.”

Notice the emotive tone of the argument.

As a matter of fact, I agree with Smith. And the reasons are those expressed by Smith in his article, and several others.

Smith’s first point is that “something extraordinary is building at the Reds”, and the young side, with an average age of 24, should stick together to complete the transition from Super Rugby no-hopers to a team that is capable of winning the title this year, and more certainly in other years.

But only if the stars like Cooper stay with the side.

As Smith points out, Cooper is the “main beneficiary” of a no-name Reds forward pack that won all the ball against the Bulls, with Will Genia giving Cooper “the ride of his life” with his lovely, long sweeping passes.

If Cooper goes to the Western Force, he won’t have Genia inside him making him look great, rather than good. A partnership that “potentially could become the best halves in Australian rugby history” would be shattered.

This is a big call.

Think Catchpole-Hawthorn and Farr-Jones-Ella, for instance. But there is something in  it.

Genia has already placed himself, in my opinion, right up there with Des Connor, Ken Catchpole, and John Hipwell in the holy trinity of the greatest Australian halfbacks.

Cooper’s play this season, with his wonderfully slick passing, his smooth running and backing-up and even the occasional headless-chicken step, has seen him set a standard that no one else in Super Rugby, not even the great Daniel Carter, has matched.

I would add two more words for Cooper to consider when he weighs up the merits of taking the Western Force money: Matt Giteau.

It’s history now that Giteau’s move to the Western Force has been something of a disaster.

The Firepower money did not come through in the golden stream promised to him. More importantly, Giteau’s play did not go up a notch or two to put him in the master play-maker territory.

This would probably, certainly in my view, happen to Cooper as well.

The final point is this.

When youngsters become All Blacks they invariably say they want to be great All Blacks. The rewards of their rugby talent are NOT seen as financial by most of these youngsters.

When they are older, perhaps, the Hayman factor, making hay while the sun shines, occasionally comes in.

But for the most part, the youngsters see a spiritual element in playing in the black jersey. They get an inner buzz, as it were, from making their mark in rugby history.

This should be Cooper’s goal, too, and the goal of any young Australian rugby player.

They are well paid for what they do. There are even more riches towards the end of their career. But in their prime, they owe it to themselves, to the supporters who pay their wages, and to lovers of the game everywhere, to produce a brand of rugby that makes strong men want to weep.

The aim should be to become a “great Wallaby.”

In Quade Cooper’s case, this can only be achieved by sticking with the Reds. And Will Genia.

© AAP 2012
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