Queensland Reds players Quade Cooper (l) and Peter Hynes (r). AAP Image/Dave Hunt
At an official rugby function in Queensland not so long ago, a slightly if not deliberately dishevelled Quade Cooper is reported to have ambled in, flopped down at a table, Reds tie askew, and introduced himself to the seated by saying with feigned nonchalance ‘Gidday, I’m Quade Cooper.’
I am reliably told that a highly respected Queensland rugby legend was sitting at the same table; he had seen enough of Cooper on the playing field to convince him that Quade Cooper was not much more than an uppity, mullet-preening, tattooed pretender who played rugby like a headless chook.
He gave Cooper a steely look and then said in effect ‘Outside, son. We need to have a little chat.’
Cooper obliged, perhaps with an indifferent shrug of the shoulders.
Outside, the grizzled old legend tore strips off him, reamed him right out, not least for the fact that by his dress and his demeanour he was showing complete disrespect for the Reds’ tie and its proud legacy forged by his predecessors in blood, sweat and broken bones.
I gather Kid Cooper appeared shaken when he resumed his seat at the table.
Not long afterwards, he was arrested and charged with burglary.
I well know where Quade Cooper comes from, a tough town called Tokoroa on New Zealand’s volcanic plateau not far from Rotorua.
I have driven through it many dozens of times, maybe stopped only now and then reluctantly to buy a pie.
In winter, it can be one of the bleakest places you’ll ever see – and freezing cold.
Yet, I am assured that despite all outward appearances, Tokoroa is notable for its extraordinary sense of community.
Perhaps that should not surprise given the high proportion of Maori and Islanders who live there. They have an admirable sense of extended family.
And interestingly, it has provided some six All Blacks since the 80s, including the current All Black hooker Kevin Meleamu and centre Richard Kahui.
And now a Wallaby: Quade Cooper.
I am the first to admit that it used to annoy me just watching Cooper play, especially his strange jumping up and down on the spot, a sort of goose-without-the-step or yes, a chook without a noodle.
There was also an unnecessary and totally unappealing arrogance in his demeanour.
I was at a loss when Cooper was included in the Wallabies end-of-year European tour in 2008. But what I did not know was that, during that tour, new coach Robbie Deans saw something in Cooper that most of us had missed: genius.
Of course, the 2010 Super 14 and the departure of Berrick Barnes to NSW along with the sensational rise of Will Genia changed everything.
Cooper was installed as flyhalf and spent the season playing the house down – with new maturity and increasing, if not imperious, authority.
He has become an absolute joy to watch. He has restored Australian rugby to what it once was: open, running, vibrant and exciting.
Yes, there are influences of his childhood hero, Carlos Spencer, in the way he plays. Of course there are.
But it’s more than that. Quade Cooper is playing an unshackled style of rugby as though he has nothing to lose – or everything to gain.
Moreover, he appears to have genuinely turned his life around, particularly in regards his fondness of the demon drink.
Redemption like this is a wonderful, inspiring thing.
Mind you, I am not sure how he has managed it, given what is hanging over his head ahead of his court appearance next month.
For a cold, sober reality check, here it is:
QUEENSLAND CRIMINAL CODE 1899 – SECT 419
419 Burglary
(1) Any person who enters or is in the dwelling of another with intent to commit an indictable offence in the dwelling commits a crime.
Maximum penalty–14 years imprisonment.
(2) If the offender enters the dwelling by means of any break, he or she is liable to imprisonment for life.
(3) If–
(a) the offence is committed in the night; or
(b) the offender–
(i) uses or threatens to use actual violence; or
(ii) is or pretends to be armed with a dangerous or offensive weapon, instrument or noxious substance; or
(iii) is in company with 1 or more persons; or
(iv) damages, or threatens or attempts to damage, any property;
the offender is liable to imprisonment for life.
(4) Any person who enters or is in the dwelling of another and commits an indictable offence in the dwelling commits a crime.
Maximum penalty–imprisonment for life.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Appreciate the compliment, Eljayel. The Sports Master back in the '60s made me captain of the Seconds and the English Master constantly wrote "can do better". Fortunately my parents formed an unwelcome but powerful alliance with the latter that eventually bore fruit.
inkosi
Roar Rookie
Come on that's not entirely true..Genia insisted RD select him for the first game in Perth but all he did was warm the bench. You can't wrap them in cotton wool! At least Burgess stodd up and was counted in his last game, the big question will be can he maintain that level - let's hope so!
BennO
Guest
"We do not have the luxury of retaining him and the other world’s bestest ever..." No that's right, we've got heaps of player depth. We can replace them with, um....well, we could replace them....with...ah...hmmm, all those other players who consistently outplayed them during the S14. Yeah. Those guys.
Gatesy
Guest
Gents, Robbie saw something special - yes, that's true - but who really brought him along this year? The answer is Ewen Mackenzie. Quade has had two good games of late and can get better. Let's bring him on slowly. Maybe he does need a dose of humility but that's not up to us- the Roarers, or the supporters -that's up to Robbie and Ewen to make happen. Let's trust those guys to get it done, and let's trust the Qld justice system to see that here is a bloke worthy of redemption. We are on the cusp of another great half-five-eight era - We had HIpwell-Ella; Carson-Ella; Farr-Jones-Lynagh; Gregan-Larkham and now we are looking at Genia-Cooper - (personally, I would love to see Toomua slotting in somewhere and that may still come, but for now- Genia-Cooper is looking good for the future - I really hope that the legal boys can get us the right result!! If Quade doesn't get that and fails to rise to the occasion, then that would be unfortunate, but we have some great combinatoins waiting to happen - Turner-Toomua etc- no shortage of talent, and as we are seeing with our Under 20's and David Nucifora, there is plenty of talent in the wings.
Parisien
Guest
Deans is making a habit out of bringing players back too soon after injury.
Eljayel
Guest
I meant a month!
Eljayel
Guest
I do think Deans- but who am I to criticise Robbie Deans? - erred by not sticking with the team he played in Perth. Sure, bring Genia on at some point and Giteau but Burgess and Barnes played brilliantly inside and outside Cooper in Perth. And sadly, Genia may be out now for a moth with a mashed hand. It's a terrible cliche but if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Jerry
Guest
Am I the only one (no, I'm not but it's a rhetorical phrase) who thinks Giteau and Cooper are struggling to coexist? I don't think it's an ego thing, but both of them seem to struggle to impose themselves on the game if they're not getting the ball a lot.
wal
Guest
who stuffed it up?"matt gteau" ya baggers!
Parisien
Guest
He was put under a lot of pressure and did ok. He might want to vary his kicking game and try the odd chip or grubber kick, but he mainly needs the forwards and half to provide better ball with more time and space!
Peter K
Guest
People cant wait to get stuck into Cooper. Cooper didnt even have a bad game and the daggers are in, just because he didnt have a MoM performance. Obvioulsy he has to every game to please you guys.
Stash
Guest
Until last night, Cooper really looked the goods. And he does indeed have that Carlos Spencer thing happening. Its got to be a head scratcher for Robbie Deans. I would stick with Cooper in the hope it was a glitch in his operating system. But with Deans selections - who really knows who he will choose - I'm not entirely sure if Robbie Deans knows.
Eljayel
Guest
Mick Gold Coast QLD Golly, Mick, you sound just like me a few months ago. I was trying to give credit where credit was due - and now you've undone it all. I didn't see the test last night and was shocked to read the result this morning but if QC reverted to the nonsensical chicken hop again I would have very disappointed. I like your writing style.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"he appears to have genuinely turned his life around" The alleged burglary incident allegedly occurred in alleged November or December. I'm reliably told, Eljay, his attitude early this year wasn't much "turned around", when he complained about not being featured in the Reds' pre-season TV advertising, missing out on fame and money. Even when he was told he'd be the last bloke they could use as a pin up boy he still didn't get it. My reading of him is he will come and go as swiftly as Yellow Boots in the League, the fullback who failed to tackle any try scorers in the State of Origin last week, who also was a hyperbole riddled world's best super star for half a season, one year ago. I saw Phil Gould describe that bloke today as one who plays for himself alone, comparing him to Slater and a young bloke named Coote who are constantly busy and who play also for the players around them. I immediately thought of Cooper in the same terms. The odd arsy flick pass (of late) doesn't signify inherent, innate skill; and neither does having no idea what to do in the last few panic striken Wallaby minutes last night when he simply skipped and jumped and skipped again on the spot, at a time when his "genius" out to pop out of the bottle (mind you, his genius should have had them not in that losing position so late in the game). Campese had genius. Porta had genius. Not this fella. He's been in the top State and National sides long enough to have come up with way better than that. We do not have the luxury of retaining him and the other world's bestest ever, Giteau better-than-Carter-by-a-country-mile, who also plays primarily for himself, until his limited array of skills is exhausted and he kicks or passes too ineffectively or too late for anyone else to advance.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
fingers are crossed - though first offence, contrition exhibited he should be fine. But I suspect Quade likes the adrenaline rush which is a double edged sword. It enables the 'gifted' player we see on the field but also leads to 'silly' deeds such as that break-in. Hopefully he has sorrounded himself with level-headed mates so we can continue to marvel at the QC, Rugby Player.