Many rugby fans would like to wash their hands of controversial playmaker Quade Cooper, according to Bob Dwyer.
But the World Cup-winning ex-Wallabies coach hoped the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) did not throw Cooper “out with the dishwater” as the Queensland Reds scrambled to retain their prized five-eighth.
Cooper will reportedly hold a press conference on Monday to announce he is leaving Australian rugby after being offered a downgraded, incentive-based contract by the ARU.
That has not stopped Reds boss Rod McCall planning talks with ARU chairman Michael Hawker who will return from London on Thursday.
“All I can do is ask for them to reconsider it (the ARU contract offer),” McCall told AAP.
Dwyer said offering Cooper a rookie-level contract after fining him for describing the Wallabies as “a toxic environment” was a bad look for the ARU.
“There is a perception that he has been punished twice for one crime which is not right,” he told AAP.
Dwyer conceded Cooper polarised fans but hoped the ARU would fight to retain a player “with qualities that rarely come around”.
“There are a lot of rugby fans that are so disappointed with what Quade said that they would think he is better off going,” he said.
“I didn’t like what he did either.
“But I would like us to do all we can to help him not do it again, not throw him out with the dishwater.”
Dwyer – whose record of 67 Tests as Wallabies coach was surpassed by Robbie Deans recently – said Cooper should prove a point to the ARU rather than walk away.
“I would be thinking `I will prove to these blokes I am worth much more than that’,” he said.
“You don’t want him to go. But the game is bigger than any one player – we will get over it.”
Cooper was reportedly outraged by the ARU’s contract offer which was supposed to top up a three-year Reds deal he signed off on in June.
Ex-Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon said Cooper’s scenario highlighted the frailties of the ARU’s revamped contract regime.
ARU top-up offers are made after players negotiate a deal with a province but in the past it was the reverse.
“There’s got to be a trigger point that once you sign with the state you’ve got a seven-day or 14-day pause to reach an ultimate conclusion with the ARU,” Cannon told Fox Sports TV.
“This situation is a reflection of how much it (current system) doesn’t work.”
McCall said it would be an “overwhelming feeling” if Cooper left.
“You can cope with it at the end of July because you have time to rectify the situation – if you have a hole in your list at the end of November you are usually in a bit of trouble,” he said.
Cooper has been linked with rugby league but time appears to have run out for the 2013 NRL season.
The Dragons are one of the few clubs able to accommodate Cooper under the salary cap but CEO Peter Doust dismissed the notion, even if the NRL came to the party.
“I don’t see the NRL being in a position to do that sort of thing,” he told AAP.
“I wouldn’t think it’s in the interests of all 16 clubs for that to be the case.
“It’s just not something that’s on my horizon.”
Cooper is most likely to dabble in boxing before a lucrative French rugby stint next year.
Keith of WA
Guest
I'm tipping he will stay.... The guy's a dill, but even he knows that he's holding a weak hand. If he and his manager have any smarts about them, he'll come out and state that he's happy enough to prove himself capable of being a Wallaby regular, shuts his mouth and knuckles down to become a player able to knock opposition players over with his (low) tackling as we'll as being a play maker. I think this is all a game designed to get the ARU to give him an offer that 'respects' his abilities..... Reality however is that the game has moved on and he needs to adapt or get out... It's just a matter of whether he wakes up to that... and the fact that he's no SBW before it's too late The press conference on Monday is 'call'.....
Azz
Guest
Quade grew up with Carlos Spencer as his idol. Unfortunately he has followed his path too closely. Bright start but faded away. At least Carlos Spencer, as far as I know, faded away with some humility. Time for Quade to go to Japan. Maybe he'll reinvent himself.
AndyS
Guest
"Ex-Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon said Cooper’s scenario highlighted the frailties of the ARU’s revamped contract regime. ARU top-up offers are made after players negotiate a deal with a province but in the past it was the reverse." Now that is an interesting point. I seem to remember that previous model saw most SR payments to players limited to ~$110k, with a few special cases allowed $150k. Might the new offer also partly be the ARU taking advantage of the sort of number the Reds are now throwing at him? As they would see it, all the money ultimately comes from them and I doubt they intended the contracting changes to increase the overall wages bill...more from the club was almost certainly intended to mean less from the ARU.
beyond the stump
Guest
Perhaps there is some truth in that. Their PR needs some work though. They are always so negative. You could choose to portray anger and negativity in the media about the leaving of Karmichael, Israel and all the others who went to Rugby or you could instead highlight the fact that theirs is the only football code that actually breeds "athletes" who are able to swap codes successfully (in many cases if not Israel). Wrong forum to go on more about that though.
GWS
Guest
Nrl is the centre of its own universe. Nothing else rates...
beyond the stump
Guest
I think QC is a fool and I never rated him when he first started playing for the Wallabies or the Reds however I have grown to appreciate the raw talent he is and I for one believe he would be a major loss to Rugby. With better leadership and support I'm sure we would have seen him mature. And with a better game plan and support for his style of play (as opposed to the one dimenisional Pat McCabe outside him) I'm sure we would have seen some more positive outcomes....but I digress it's all been said to death. What I'm really surprised about is the lack of vision by the NRL to not realise what a coup it would be to secure QC. How can it not be on their radar? AFL saw the PR benefits in pilfering Israil. Even if it didn't pay off in playing terms it was a success exposure and PR terms. The fact is young kids love QC so I would expect any sporting body to want him, including the ARU.
Justin2
Guest
Quake those two words sum up Deans game plans beautifully. I dips me lid sir ;)
Justin2
Guest
mania you are just being silly with your comments about his game and skills.
Quakezone...
Guest
Boring is better than Stupid.
GWS
Guest
Boring is not enough
mania
Guest
i cant understand the pro coopers stance. can u guys not understand that he still has a contract with the ARU and its based on him getting paid only if he contributes to the cause? they have cut him or gotten rid of him. he can still make substantial money but he has to to contribute. why pay him a top up when he could easily turn around again and say he wont play for the wb's? thats getting paid for doing nothing. if he chooses to go then its better that he does. with all the money invested in him by the ARU and the retainers paid to keep him in rugby, if this is his attitude after all thats been done for him then u dont want to throwing good money after bad. he's even that good. sure he makes some great plays but if you also look at his error rate then your really only getting 1 good clean game outta 10 from him. screw that, i'd rather go with someone boring and reliable who does the basics well then someone whose average in the basics and might pull off a big play now and then.