Quade Cooper’s grandmother has jumped to his defence, insisting the Wallabies’ “lovely” young playmaker is a misunderstood and caring character.
Cooper was again besieged by reporters at Australia’s team announcement on Thursday amid unabated hysteria over his so-called “public enemy No.1” status at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The Kiwi media refuse to get over Cooper’s on-field brushes with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, but Millie Cooper says it’s time for everyone to move on.
“They said Quadey kneed Richie McCaw’s head. They see the bad part but they didn’t see who was pushing him … build a bridge and get over it,” she told the New Zealand Herald.
“It seems there’s a little bit of jealousy both here and over in Aussie, but as long as his teammates get on well – bugger the rest.”
Cooper’s grandmother, 76, said the Waikato-born star was anything but arrogant in her eyes.
“He’s not a whakahihi (arrogant) boy, you know; he loves children and he loves the old people – he’s got patience to be with young and old.
“He rang his granddad when he was first picked for an Australian side. He said ‘granddad, how would you feel if I told you I’m playing for Australia? His granddad said ‘go for it boy’.”
Cooper, who moved to Brisbane when he was 15, still has a lot of family living in New Zealand – including aunties and an uncle who still lives in the house he grew up in at Tokoroa.
Despite being hounded by the Kiwi press and roundly booed during Australia’s opening World Cup win over Italy on Sunday, Cooper said “there’s a lot of love” for him still in his homeland.
Especially from his family.
“They’re very proud, more proud of the fact that I’m doing something I love,” he said.
“If someone in their family is doing something that they love and doing well, then you’re going to be proud of them.”
Saying he “didn’t really care” about what people thought of him in New Zealand, Cooper also brushed off criticism from former World Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones.
Farr-Jones this week labelled Cooper a “boofhead” for provoking the All Blacks with his clashes with McCaw, but the classy No.10’s focus is squarely on beating Ireland in a crucial Pool C fixture in Auckland on Saturday.
“I just looked at it in a positive manner and I just look forward to the game that we have this weekend,” Cooper said.
“Nick’s already said that we’ll be in the final against the All Blacks. So, mate, from his eyes we’re a lot better than what we are.
“We’ve got a game this weekend which we’ve got to focus on. (We need to) get through this game and another two pool games against the USA and Russia.
“So there’s a lot to go before we can even think about that.”
JVKP Jono
Guest
Quadey, his mum and dad, did build a bridge and got over it, along with 300,000 of this mates, and now he plays for Ozzie? Still, he would be carters understudy if he stayed in godsown, the land of the long white cloud, the shakey isles, and played for the ABs.
bokka
Guest
I was talking to a Kiwi mate just recently and he assured me NOTHING "lovely & caring" has ever come out of Tokoroa. Maybe this could be validated from Kiwi posters here? :)
Doug
Guest
The same would also apply to the New Zealand media not backing the All Black captain. The whole thing is a load of slow news day BS. Seriously when was the last time players from the Wallabies and All Blacks got on. Maybe Phil Kearns and Sean Fitzpatrick were best buddies, but aside from them....
AdamS
Roar Guru
could just have her fight Sonny BW. she would have to be better than his last opponent.
johnny-boy
Guest
Now that would be gold Jimbo !
Jimbo
Guest
We all know that Quade's manager likes his boxing. Perhaps we could get Grandma "No Teeth" Coops and Granny 'South Paw' McCaw in the ring together!
Emuarse
Guest
But who was the naughty boy who pushed our beloved Quady in the back? We need an AB to be public enemy No1
Jiggles
Roar Guru
hear hear!
mattamkII
Guest
what a good bloke you are.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Ok, ok, before we all get carried away. In the spirit of bipartisanism, hands across the Tasman and all that, I think we should suspend all further comment on this issue until we hear from Richies' Grandmum and get her take on this whole issue.
Ash
Guest
This is Gold! All the cry babies should just get over it.
Carl Wells
Guest
Yup thats what I was gonna say, the news story would be if his Granny DIDN'T back him....."You've been a very naughty boy Quade now you go and apologise to that nice young man Richie McCaw!"
darwin stubby
Guest
Must be a very slow news day if they had to dig this up - travel to some backwater, to ask a question that was going to get (shock horror) a grandmother backing her grandson ... FFS
WQ
Guest
How dare those nasty New Zealanders accuse Quadey of being naughty. Thats what they said when he was little too so we took him to Australia Who cares about New Zealand anyway!
Mario
Guest
Someone shut this old bag up!
Jimbo
Guest
Forget WAG's... I want to see MAG's (Mothers and Grandmas).
Amorita Maharaj
Roar Rookie
what a lovely grannie!! Go Cooper!
CraigB
Roar Guru
“They said Quadey kneed Richie McCaw’s head. They see the bad part but they didn’t see who was pushing him … build a bridge and get over it,” - best Grandma quote ever
johnny-boy
Guest
On ya Gran - the boy will come good, big time.