Wallabies and Queensland Reds star Quade Cooper has reportedly been charged by police after he allegedly robbed a residence on the Gold Coast on Sunday morning.
Cooper was released from Southport watchhouse on Sunday afternoon, charged with one count of burglary.
A police media spokesman said a 21-year-old man had been charged with one count of burglary of a residence in Surfers Paradise.
He is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on December 11.
Cooper recently returned from a breakthrough Wallabies tour, where he played all four Tests in Australia’s Grand Slam quest.
A Queensland Rugby Union spokesman declined to comment as the matter was before the courts.
Asked if Cooper would be stood down, the QRU spokesman replied: “We’ve got to establish the full facts of the matter before we can decide what action if any action will be taken.”
UPDATE: Quade Cooper’s law firm has released a media statement. In it, they state:
“This firm has been retained to act on behalf of Quade Cooper in relation to the charge against him alleging that he committed an offence of burglary on the Gold Coast over the weekend.
Given that Quade has been charged and the matter is before the Court, we are limited in what we can say on Quade’s behalf about the cicrumstances giving rise to the alleged offence.
Similarly, as much as he would like to, Quade is unable to make any comments to the media about the circumstances.
However, we can say that the investigations that need to be undertaken in this matter are far from concluded and it would be unfair for anyone to pre-judge Quade or to speculate as to what in fact happened both prior to and at the time of the alleged offence. Quade, like everyone else, is entitled to have the circumstances fully investigated and, if the matter progresses to that point, entitled to a fair trial.”
jus de couchon
Guest
I always thought a criminal record was a condition of entry into that part of the world. Mr Cooper may be genetically predisposed to find himself in this unfortunate situation. A ball and chain would certainly effect his contribution to an already struggling Oz backline IMO.
Karlos
Guest
Oh my God these Rugby Union stars are a disgrace. And suddenly people should be given the benefit of the doubt. Not so when a League player is wrongly accused. AUSTRALIAN rugby has been rocked by the news that a second young Wallaby will face a criminal charge in the space of a week after NSW utility back Kurtley Beale was charged with assault. AUSTRALIAN rugby has been rocked by the news that a second young Wallaby will face a criminal charge in the space of a week after NSW utility back Kurtley Beale was charged with assault. Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on a burglary charge last Friday and the case has been adjourned until July 2. And now Beale will appear in Mount Druitt Local Court in western Sydney on January 13 on a charge of common assault.
anopinion
Guest
Fair point. A better comparison would be the Australian Rugby Team v the Australian League Team for behaviour issues. Or the Qld and NSW Rugby Teams V the State of Origin Teams. I have been part of a rugby club for many years and have never seen a club member on assault charges. Why? It has nothing to do with the media, just better behaviour.
Joh4Canberra
Guest
@Daniel J: No prizes for guessing my profession either (if you call it a "profession" that is; I'm not currently gainfully employed in the law since I am undertaking a PhD in constitutional law).
westy
Guest
Quade is desperately trying to contact Greg Bird's mate to see if he was up at Surfer's on the evening in question
westy
Guest
mattamkll I do not but Tiger is heading for a baker's dozen and its only Wednesday. i have volunteered to act as Tiger's wife's divorce attorney I just need to be speed up being admitted in Florida. Very generous divorce laws just ask Greg Norman!
Daniel J
Guest
@ Joe - Cheers for the elaboration i simple didn't have enough time to articulate it any further :) but yes you articulated it superbly, enough hints i guess as to what my profession is..... But generally as you stated below, i think it would be incredible unlikely that he would be able to source a professional sporting visa for most western countries if convicted, but i guess we will have to wait and see how this pans out. However, burglary is a particularly serious offence in QLD under the QLD Criminal Code there could also be many different aggravating factors that the DPP could pursue, however that again is another issue. How hard will the DPP push their case against him? and what actual evidence can be produced? Can't wait till Friday!
Barking Glider
Guest
Really? One man made one error in judgment, confessed it to his wife, and they moved on. The other has apparently committed adultery with at least 10 other women, who knows how many times.
Darwin hammer
Roar Rookie
BG - if you can't see the difference between Tiger Woods and Matt Johns then there's something wrong with your preception ...
Joh4Canberra
Guest
No one actually said that by engaging in a chilli sauce eating contest Cooper was immature. As my use of question marks (three no less) would indicate, I was merely offering a suggestion (prompted by mattamkll's question) as to what Parisien might have meant. I didn't say such behaviour was immature and in his subsequent answer neither did Parisien. So I don't think there is any "moral high grounding" here by anyone and no need to get in a tizz about it.
mattamkII
Guest
oh the poor NRL boys....say again, if you want 10x as much normal press week in week out you have to expect the same when things go wrong. Barking Glider - how the hell you can draw a line between Tiger and Johns is amazing and a little sad to me.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Whisper is Cooper was on a bucks night, and can't remember much of the night Well he would say that wouldn't he ...). I am reminded of Wycliff palu getting busted earlier this year for a DUI and losing his licence. it barely got a mention. When I saw it, I thought if that wss a league player ... Mind you,. at the time RL had a story like that every week, so the media were in hype mode. The media cares about one thing - sales. At the end of the day they'd report on scrabble if it was popular.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Someone has now. Must be a Roarer who took the suggestion ...
Barking Glider
Guest
Saw that. They also said that Tiger Woods (What's the count now - 10 women?) had no obligation to front the media and explain himself. Whereas after just one moral misdemeanour they all wanted Matty Johns cut up on the floor on live national tv.
Barking Glider
Guest
anopinion said: "Actually rugby has a good track record of players behaving well. I will criticise the ARU if they fail to act on this. Do RL players have the same track record of good behaviour?" A typical smugby analysis. The NRL has over 400 first grade players. That's not counting another 400 potential news stories via the NYC players. The media also go after NSW and Queensland Cup players, and retired players, and even the relative of club owners. So what's that? 1000 potential players for Gallop to be worried about? As we've seen with Cooper, one of the lesser known Wallabies is reported upon with less attention and hysteria than a NSW Cup player. The ARU also have only about 30 to 40 contracted players. There are far less RU players, so there damn well should be less incidents. Doesn't prove that on a pro rata basis that RU players are better behaved than league players. A fairer comparison would be to compare Wallabies to Aussie cricketers or the Socceroos.
Parisien
Guest
whoa there, steady on mattamkll! I wasn’t making any point at all, just an observation or reflection. I was thinking its sad that several weeks ago this young man was having a fun dare with his equally young friends and teammates for thrills in a Dublin restaurant, a Wallaby, on tour in Europe, and living an adventure most only dream of, and now is up on burglary charges back home on the Gold Coast. I was not at all intending to imply that he may have committed a burglary just for thrills, and its certainly not moral high grounding. I had loved that story about the hot sauce and it now seems a world away. I actually think its a great shame being an admirer of Cooper the rugby player for some time now and was dismayed like many others to hear the news, especially as he had a great tour and was providing the Wallaby backline with much of the unpredictability and creative spark that they were lacking. If he is found guilty, it will be a loss to Australian rugby and a big blow to Cooper, his family, friends and his supporters.
Parisien
Guest
no, see below
anopinion
Guest
Actually rugby has a good track record of players behaving well. I will criticise the ARU if they fail to act on this. Do RL players have the same track record of good behaviour?
anopinion
Guest
Got myself in a twist? Excuse me mate but I think you read poorly. Try reading through the thread again and see if you can comprehend it.
Rockin Rod
Guest
Who just saw THE BACK PAGE ON FOX SPORTS ????? Their is a good side to Quade Cooper, lets not judge him just yet. Camp Quality ambassador etc