Putting his money where his mouth is, Sonny Bill Williams has offered to give half his 2013 Sydney Roosters salary to Quade Cooper in a bid to lure the ex-Wallabies five-eighth to the NRL club.
But Roosters recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan, who almost signed Cooper to the Melbourne Storm in 2008, doubts whether the Queensland Reds playmaker can now cut it in league.
Williams made the surprise offer after it was announced his good friend Cooper would make his professional boxing debut on the undercard of the ex-All Black’s WBA international heavyweight fight with South African veteran Francois Botha in Brisbane on February 8.
“I would go as far to say as I would give him half my pay packet just to lure him across,” Williams said.
“That’s not just words. I would really do that.”
Cooper – sitting next to Williams at the Brisbane announcement – quickly warmed to the idea.
“He’s one of the top earning players in the world – you do the math,” he smiled.
Cooper is considering a code switch after receiving a downgraded, incentive-based offer from the Australian Rugby Union.
And Williams said a recent report that claimed no NRL club was interested in Cooper should be taken with a grain of salt.
“I have been there when clubs have rung up and enquired about his services,” Williams said.
“I have no doubt he can succeed in the 13-man game.”
But the Roosters have not been calling, according to O’Sullivan.
“Whether the NRL would look at that (Williams offer), there’s a million things to discuss before anything like that happened,” O’Sullivan told AAP.
O’Sullivan saw Cooper, who grew up playing league with current Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall, as a prospective fullback.
“But could he handle the high ball?” O’Sullivan said.
“And at fullback there is fairly brutal contact. It’s a skill set he has never been tested at.
“He is an incredible talent but it is another thing being an NRL player.”
Williams said he would discuss his offer with Roosters supremo Nick Politis but an NRL spokesman said it would only be seriously explored if the NRL club tabled it.
“Players have to go under the salary cap at their true value,” he said.
“I can’t rule anything in or out until someone puts it forward, but players can’t do that.”
Dom
Guest
Haha nice Fred! As a souths fan I welcome QC to run on for game 1 of the 2013 season, he will do great :P
DingoBob
Guest
Quade who? Isn't he a boxer?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Juggernaut or liabiliy or perhaps something in between. For the length of his career? Granted he was a better organiser and could read a game.
mushi
Roar Guru
Yep Locky was defensive juggernaut...
fred gallop
Guest
Eastern suburbs - both confirmed bachelors - seen out together - sharing income - hmmm
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Lockyer a liability in defence!!!!.Obviously had not watched his rugby league at any length.And who are the many others who play in close,liabilities in defence and who have done well. Offiah was winger,just like Campo,both defensively so so.
Mr Taylor
Roar Rookie
martin offiah, lockyer and many others who were all liability in defence have all done well in rugby league.
The Far Side
Guest
please take the offer, now
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
I have a better suggestion - an idea to see if which one of these guys is the real deal and to test the bromance. SBW to fight QC in a Khoder Nasser sponsored winner takes all double-header.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Kodder Nasser circus continues, what's next. The man to sign for the Kings. I implore anyone close to Cooper to not consider League, he is a liability in defence in Union. You would be feeding him to the Lions in League.
Meesta Cool
Guest
hehehehehehe.... hahahahahaha... yeah rght.... I smell a skunk in the shed.... c'mon get real,, Meesta schubert , where are yoou???.
Cantab
Guest
This isn't putting money where your mouth is...it's just more bad chat which hasn't been backed up by actions.
jus de couchon
Guest
SBW and QC might work. Great if it did. More likely to be a short lived circus act though. Does the NRL need Clowns?
FrancisC
Guest
hey Steve, early in the year before the season 2012 started - your overpriced halfback was seen at a pub/bistro sculling it. The owner of the establishment lucky enough was an Eels supporter. I even suggested that he should have taken a photo and sent it to the Eels board or the coach at that time so they can do whatever is required to get him to perform to his potential. What a wasted talent he is - he has the potential!
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
Offer him an incentive based contract. If he gets on the park, say around $1500 a week should tide him over.
steve b
Roar Guru
Maybe our overpriced halfback can do the same so we can fit Izzy in LOL !!