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Another Roar poster asked me what advice I would have for Quade Cooper in his current situation. I revealed that I had already written to him. Here is what I said …
Dear Quade Cooper,
Although I doubt this message will make it to you in time, it is important that I write to you. I believe you need to hear from the fans in more than 140 character bursts.
Please don’t leave rugby union.
I am an ardent supporter of yours. I think you are (a) the most gifted footballer (let alone flyhalf) the Wallabies have available and (b) the most important weapon rugby has in its desire to grow and compete with the NRL, AFL and the A-League in Australia.
However, even I have to admit that you have made mistakes.
Do not get me wrong, the ARU has completely mismanaged this situation, but so have you. It is a plague on both your houses.
Suck it up. Be the bigger man.
If you walk away, you let them win. It is that simple.
The lack of a top-up is insulting, so use it as motivation. Screw the blue blazer brigade. They want you to fail. They want you to quit. Show them what you’re worth in the best way possible – play the house down at Suncorp Stadium in 2013 and guide the Reds to a second championship.
You win by winning over the public, and at the moment you don’t have them all. You have them in Brisbane, but not elsewhere.
Kids might love you, but their parents don’t. They will if you prove the haters wrong. The crowd loves a troubled-bad-boy-turned-good redemption story.
You win when you force them to put you in Wallaby gold again. Walk away and you just confirm every mean-spirited opinion the haters have of you.
Deans won’t get his contract extended after the Lions tour, there is too much discontent, so outlast him.
By all means, get your dispensation to box and earn that extra money if you want, but stay with the Reds and with rugby.
Yours in admiration and hope,
Queensland Reds Member, Australian Rugby Fan
In case you are curious about who I am, I post as “Red Kev” on sports commentary sites (The Roar and Green and Gold Rugby, mostly) where I have mounted many an impassioned defence of you.
I don’t live in Queensland, but I travel to Suncorp at least once a year to watch you on a footy field.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.