I’ve got this theory Quade Cooper is actually a good bloke. Now before you mutter “rubbish” under your breath, bear with me.
I’m not a Queensland Reds fan or a part of the Khoder Nassar management clique that seems to embrace every ‘troubled’ Australian sportsman.
My belief is born of the simple suspicion that, behind the touted arrogant facade, the mercurial 24-year Cooper is just a young man who wants to do what is right for himself and his family.
A cliche, perhaps, but cliches are important indicators of human behaviour.
As a New Zealander, it has been thumped into me since birth the All Blacks are my sole religion. Men who sport the green and gold are considered both fetid and foe, none more so than those few traitorous Kiwi ‘Wallabies’ who stand facing the Haka, instead of performing it.
The New Zealand hate campaign directed at Cooper (yes, he’s a Kiwi) at last year’s Rugby World Cup did not once prompt me to think ‘poor guy’. I was as vocal in my cries for his (on-field) blood as any.
I’ve also bagged Cooper numerous times, made many references about what a dick he is, and I too laughed out loud when I heard how he, like bestie Sonny Bill Williams, wants to take a swing at boxing.
Disturbingly, however, I recently came across a picture of Cooper doing voluntary work for Zig Zag, a children’s charity, for whom he is an ambassador.
It got me thinking how easy it is to ignore the good in people and how completely the positive side of Australia’s most despised sportsman has been buried under public loathing.
For many years, Cooper has lent his name to charity work, to which he also continuously donates time and memorabilia. One on occasion, off his own bat, he even drove out to flood-ravaged Warra State School in Queensland, just to play a game of touch and bring a smile to the faces of the small community.
Does this make him an angel? No, but it draws a picture at odds with the media-sketched caricature of a self-absorbed brat.
We never hear about Cooper’s financial support of his family, nor how he donates his sponsored Qantas flights to friends and relatives. This is not a man completely driven by “me”.
I spoke with Cooper’s Reds and Wallabies teammate Saia Fainga’a who is adamant Australia’s revulsion for his friend is fuelled not by accuracy but the media’s barrage of negative opinion.
“The person Quade is perceived to be by the public is completely different to what we see as friends and teammates; a genuine person who puts the team first,” says Fainga’a from his Brisbane base.
“He is one of the hardest trainers on the field and one of the hardest workers off it, especially with his charity work. He’s the first bloke to put his hand up if anyone needs anything, he’s always happy to help out around the place and unfortunately people don’t want to talk about that side of him”.
So I got to thinking.
What if we’ve simply witnessed one of Australia’s biggest sporting stars being honest about why he is not firing on the field? And for this he was crucified by the ARU with a $60,000 fine and a very public “we don’t want you”.
I’m sure every person reading this has at one time or another been in a position where no matter how much you tried, things wouldn’t fall into place; where you turn up to work with a positive attitude, a promise to yourself not to let the boss get under your skin and yet … crap happened.
Perhaps, just perhaps, this was Cooper’s thinking too, only no matter what or how hard he tried, crap happened.
Like the knee injury earlier this year and Cooper’s unwise proclamation on live TV the Wallabies environment was “destroying me as a person and as a player”.
“At the moment with having all his trouble with the media, coming back and forth from the Wallabies as well as being injured, it’s hard for him,” Fainga’a goes on.
“People underestimate just what he is capable of.”
Maybe we will never see what Cooper is capable of. Or maybe we are yet to see his best.
Either way, sadly, it won’t stop the hating.
Minz
Guest
Surely if it was a PR stunt, we would've heard about it? I've never previously heard of any of this!
Malo
Guest
Lets face it he had the worst world cup by any wallaby in history,then bags his coach and employer and then winges he should be the highest paid wallaby lets all get real.
Malo
Guest
here here some common sense and some reality in the argument. Is his heart in anyone of these charities?
Malo
Guest
Wow he did a couple of days charity on his ample days off give me a break.
Malo
Guest
Yeah yesterdays man. At least he had his 15 minutes of fame. He was paid way too much for his so called abilities and deserved to be ridiculed at the world cup.
Handles
Guest
What were you watching? Quade was fantastic on return, and tackling better than before his injury. HE got suspended for that ridiculous call of a high shot on Berrick Barnes, and the Reds fell out hte next week.
Handles
Guest
"But I know lots of people like that, some of which are near the top of their chosen professions. Not a single one of them would have a job if the publically denigrated the company and their bosses, then stated that they would perform no further duties until changes were made to suit them" Well, what you are ignoring here is that not many of the people that you are referring to work in total monopoly situations, with a coach who has ultimate say over what they do on a day to day basis. So they would have choices, either to move their skills elsewhere, or to persuade the board of the company that things are not going well, or in most cases, the ultimate form of free expression, working for yourself. Also, you are talking about people who, by and large, are reasonable to good communicators and come from the same social and educational background as the people that they are working for. Quade comes from a humble background, and in terms of use of English as a mode of expression, he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. All of these things make a big difference.
Ryanno
Guest
Yes absolutely I have been burnt out at work, hating what I used to love e.t.c but you know what?? I didn't go on TV or Twitter and bag my boss and the company I work for because I am not an idiot. At the end of the day Quade might do a heck of a lot of charity work and his mates call him a good bloke but the reality is that he is just not that smart. Not a crime and this won't be the last time he does something that leaves all Rugby fans wondering just how dumb this bloke is.
Justin2
Guest
6 - there are always strong points put across on this forum but I have to challenge and potentially slate the hell out of your opinion if you a at all suggesting that Mike Harris is a better 10 than Cooper? That would be one of the more returded things I have ever seen written... Which part directly of my post did you disagree with?
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
He did not. His timing was woeful, too ambitious and inaccurate. Harris in 10 won every game when he played there.
MikeG
Roar Rookie
This might sound hokey, but I was pretty impressed by the way in which QC won that Rexona Worlds best sports show...I know it was TV fluff at it's best, but I saw something in Quade during that show which I'd not seen before...That real, intense desire to win...And I was impressed! Look, we've all said and done silly things and I'm sure he regrets what he said...But to lose him from the sport would be even sillier IMHO.
stillmatic1
Guest
just saying im sure he wouldnt be too popular with everyone in the wallabies at the moment, that is all. and i am not suggesting that they should all hold hands and singing kum ba yah instead of training!!
stillmatic1
Guest
you havent answered the question, as usual. based on what evidence has quade done more than ANYONE else? pretty basic question. by the way i havent denied what he has or hasnt done re: charity work, simply stating he is not alone in performing this duty.
stillatragic
Guest
Good article. And better in that it is thoughtful and positive. Undoubtedly the media and the internet contrarians love to demonise, and we blogers do so anonymously with impunity. Have you ever been utterly burnt out at work - hating what you used to love, and walking away with the view of never coming back? I know I have. After a year, I was refreshed, back at work and have been loving it ever since. Maybe that is what Quade needs. To be away from the spotlight, and yes, the internet contrarians, and hopefully come back with a passion for what he does best. Rugby will survive without him, but my God, it is so much better with him.
Justin2
Guest
Beautiful
Justin2
Guest
You need to be objective here. He actually played quite well for the reds on return and he provided a lot of shape to their game that was missing. He didn't play well for the wallabies but still kprovided more line breaks then we had seen all year.
Post
Guest
QC: does more charity work than I ever will in my life, still bag him because he said a company that's making stupid decisions is making stupid decisions. Awesome.
wal
Guest
get a life you lot!, your all nothin but hypocrites, qc is human and your all are lets say of this world who criticise, manipulate, twist, opinionated, one sided biaaaasss ego rugby mini-brained twits who dont know the meaning of life after footy! Go QC!
Stanley grella
Guest
It wasn't a media beat up. Come on. It's one thing to highlight positives but don't rewrite history to support your point of view. Ifquade had taken responsability for his bad actions rather than people making instant excuses he may be on the cusp of becoming a great right now instead of a target for hatred.
Stanley grella
Guest
I think you should rephrase your response Jiggles. Alot of wallabies do a lot for charity. It's great that Quade does it but you can't put other players and there efforts down and then call people haters. His good behavior unfortunately is equalled out by his bad behavior. You cant be hero to kids one minute & then to drunk to control your actions the next. Otherwise your not a hero at all. It's part of maturing and hopefully Quade has enough good people around him to make sure he sees the benefits his career can have of sticking to the straight and narrow.