If a player is ruled out of a representative match due to an injury, he should not be allowed to play for their club on the same weekend. Somebody needs to tell St George that.
Matt Cooper, St George Illawarra centre, has been ruled out of the City/Country clash. But when team lists came out, Cooper’s name was on the Dragons lineup for their big clash against Manly.
This is downright outrageous.
It’s not 100 percent certain if he will play or not, but what are the Dragons thinking to even toy with the idea?
Who knows, it may even be Cooper’s idea. He may feel he isn’t fit enough for both games or doesn’t think he has a legitimate chance to be picked for Origin.
So why not pull out and keep his side rolling this weekend.
Not a bad idea when nothing gets done about it. The NRL should have a rule regarding situations like Cooper’s.
How can you possibly be right to play 24 hours after you’ve declared yourself unfit?
Braith Anasta is in the same boat. He pulled out due to an ankle injury, but is lining up for his club on Monday night.
How is this setting an example for future representatives? It must not mean much to the players anymore.
If I was injured, I would be trying my hardest to get it right so I could have a crack on Friday night. I would feel embarrassed if I’d let my teammates go to battle on Friday night and then played Saturday night.
How unfair is it to the guys like Robertson, Stewart and Hodkinson, who played the rep match and now have to back up against Cooper and the Dragons?
I really hope Matt Cooper doesn’t play this weekend. If he has a good head on his shoulders he should know what’s right.
Nugby
Guest
Can't believe the amount of disinformation out there on this. COOPER DID NOT TRAIN WITH THE DRAGONS THIS WEEK. Because he could not train with Country, the selectors ruled him out. He's 31, injury prone, and does his hamstrings all the time. Cooper may play for the Dragons tomorrow night, he may not. He won't train though, but that okay, because he's got more than a Decade's experience with the team and knows the game-plan. Cooper wasn't picked because you need to be able to train early in the week for City Country, which Cooper couldn't and often can't. That's it. There's no bloody conspiracy, and I don't know why Jock Collie has so little idea what his selectors and medical staff do.
Adrian Bauk
Roar Guru
Soapit, I'm wondering what you will think if he does play? Do you think that is fair?
Ken
Guest
Apologies so you did.
soapit
Guest
Rick its always worth getting fired up about no matter how simple otherwise journos would be out of a job.
M1tch
Roar Guru
I thought Cooper/Morris combo was a certain for NSW, he should be blacklisted now
Beer?!?
Guest
They should bring in the rule like the nba...if your not right to play in the all star game...you cant play the following game (which is 2 days later)...players have been suspended by the league for this in the nba for faking such injuries and playing, which is why they have brought the suspended rule in..all be it one game but it is exactly the same in league. It's definately not fair that cooper and anasta are lining up, I hope they get season ending injuries because of this, its not fair for others to have to gut it out and play 2 games in 2 nights, its your bloody job to play footy so just play!
Adrian Bauk
Roar Guru
Sorry if I've read your reply wrong but I did mention Anasta. He is more likely to play then Cooper is.
Ken
Guest
It's a beat-up, he hasn't trained all week and may not be fit for the weekends games. It's a 1 week representative camp, if he can't train then they do better calling someone else up. Since he's there week-in, week-out for his club they can leave it to game day to make a decision. Funnily enough, Anasta - who is usually no media darling - is in an identical position (too injured to play for City but named for his club) and hasn't even been mentioned as far as I know.
RickG
Guest
I heard an interview with Brad walter and he explained it was a misunderstanding: The Dragons suggested he should be left out of one CvC training session as a precaution (but was otherwise OK), however this was interpreted as him not being 100% fit and he was therefore not selected. It may acutally be that simple and not worth getting fired up about.
Strucy
Guest
I read a number of blogs after the teams were named for City v Country and there was so many people in uproar about the fact the Cooper wasn't picked, calling the selectors every name under the sun (mostly Dragons fans I bet). I find it funny as all of those harsh comments should now be directed at Cooper himself. Just because he feels that this is a meaning less match (or that his club match is more important to him) doesn't give him the right to thumb his nose at this match for years on end. Shame, Shame, Shame. Idris will be happy as Larry at selection and I hope he has a blinder.
Andy
Guest
Cooper has done it for a number of years he should be ruled out for the dragons manly match.