Quade Cooper is as good as gone from Australian rugby after the Queensland Rugby Union exited talks with his management over keeping him in Reds colours.
The enigmatic Wallabies five-eighth is now poised to move to France after the World Cup and join European club heavyweights Toulon on a two-year deal, after 107 games and 10 seasons with Queensland.
Talks between the QRU, the Australian Rugby Union and Cooper’s manager Khoder Nasser reached a point of exhaustion and a Reds media release said “events over the last few weeks” prompted the organisation to take their offer off the table.
“Quade has had the unwavering support of Queensland Rugby for many years and although he has consistently indicated his preference to stay with Queensland and both the QRU and ARU have worked tirelessly in an attempt to accommodate the requirements of his management, the QRU has been disappointed in a number of factors throughout this drawn-out negotiation process, including his recent trip to France and what we believe are unrealistic expectations made by his management,” QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael said.
“QRU has been flexible in its attempts to retain Quade, offering significant remuneration and being understanding of his boxing ambitions and supportive in relation to the possibility of sabbatical options.
“We have come to the difficult decision that the investment we have made previously and were prepared to continue to make has not been recognised, particularly when taking into account our commitment to him over a very long period of time.
“As a consequence, we are no longer prepared to be involved in any further discussions as this will leave the organisation further exposed.
“It goes without saying that Quade leaves us with our gratitude for his time with the Reds and has only our best wishes and thanks as he enters a new chapter in his career.”
The Reds statement confirmed the widespread belief that Cooper signed a letter of agreement with Toulon when he visited the club in April but upon his return, the club said the 27-year-old was genuine in his desire to stay.
But for that to happen, the French club reportedly required a six-figure sum to release him.
Cooper has played 53 Tests but needs to add seven more before the end of the World Cup to qualify for the ARU’s new Wallabies eligibility rules and allow his international career to continue while playing for Toulon.
Cooper’s loss is a huge blow for the Reds, not only in a football sense but in pure marketability.
He has been the face of the franchise for years but his departure, together with the recent farewells of club greats James Horwill and Will Genia, signals a true changing of the guard at Ballymore.
It also means a likely search for a marquee replacement at No.10 from overseas, with rookies Jake McIntyre and Duncan Paia’aua their only back-ups in the key playmaking position.
Only last week, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said based on his own personal dealings with Cooper, he felt like the off-contract star wanted to stay in Australia beyond the World Cup.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Joe Roff 2003 against Argentina. Appalling game. Ben McCalman V Ireland in 2011 There's two off cuff.
hoqni
Guest
"The decision sits with him as to which road he wants to take but he will do so knowing that the head coach of the Wallabies and the ARU is fully supportive of Quade playing for Australia, from Australia."
AlanKC
Guest
How are you with Lotto numbers Peter?
Hoqni
Guest
But Quade was making the point on behalf of Roarers. Thank you Quade. And now go to Melbourne and put more bums in AAMI
HarryT
Guest
Young players are going to move around for the experience as well as the money. You either go with that and build a good relationship or go against it and create animosity. ARU doesn't get this.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
agreed it might not be about money Combesy but again the QRU are happy with the contract they offered & the player does not agree. If in fact it was about a coaching ultimatum then for mine thats a deal killer anyway. No player should be looking to dictate the the coaching staff to the union.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
In the toilet? Connolly had a better success rate than Deans. We were defeating the All Blacks at home, just unable to win the Bledisloe. Are you going to judge an entire 2 year period on a single game (RWC QF)?
PeterK
Roar Guru
Combesy - Looks like the Tahs read my suggestion, QC could be a tah
Combesy
Guest
Do some reading before pointing fingers Chivas...
Combesy
Guest
I don't think we need giteau either, but I still think times have change when a player could make their way through from clubland on the back of honest hard work. There's more too it now. Just take the next generation of stars debreczeni, kellaway and Campbell magnay. All plucked out of school boy rugby not club rugby
Combesy
Guest
Chivas and train, i could be wrong but I remember a couple of players and ex players coming out in agreeance with cooper and in support of link when he was appointed.
Chivas
Guest
But clearly more than happy to speculate.
Chivas
Guest
You know it didn't. It was in the toilet before Dean's rocked up. Did he turn it completely around. No he didn't,but he made some inroads in my humble opinion, although the experts on here are far more knowledgeable about coaching. My comment was in respect to yours about QC being proven correct about his toxic comments. Following that rationale, KB still remains a chance at knighthood for outing Ewen and Di. So my question to you remains. By whom was it proven that QC's comments were appropriate and correct. The same people who have concluded he is leaving because they couldn't come to agreement over RG?
frank the tank
Guest
Yeah look calm down again mate, everyones entitled to their 2 cents here so just relax bro. If you can't read properly that's not my problem. You must be stoked with the identification programme going on at the moment then from your "professional organisation". I do agree with what you said earlier about Giteau though. Jeez everyones got amnesia all of the sudden, we don't bloody well need him. Mitchell and George - the great man - Smith however....
Combesy
Guest
Except for the fact that the ARU are looking to continue negotiations with cooper. So too me that suggest it has nothing to do with money but more to do about conditions made in his negotiations that the QRU didn't want to meet. Was it him wanting to player sevens or was it him wanting the coach gone... We might never know
Combesy
Guest
Mate I've been a member for the last decade. I have had them personally renew my memberships without me doing it myself and had my memberships turn up in the mail. I then called them and they advised they 'automatically do it if they don't hear from us by XX date to say we didn't want to renew it'
Shane D
Roar Rookie
if Cooper wanted to stay at the Reds he would have signed the contract offered to him. He is an adult & he makes the final call on where he plays not his manager.
Combesy
Guest
Cool story mate, but you failed to make a point. The point is still valid that the elite players of our game were identified at an early age. Wake up mate the Amatuer era is over.
frank the tank
Guest
Calm down combesy and co, your "prodigy" QC was pretty average from what I remember, because the poor bugger was selected too young when he should of been allowed to hone his game, body and attitude in club rugby while a part of the reds squad no doubt. You guys do realise quite a few wallabies from the amateur and professional eras didn't even play first xv at school. Hell some even came from country rugby (shock horror!) so take off the old school tie for a sec cause that's sort of what got us here in the first place. I'm sure there have been many of your so called prodigies who looked a million bucks in powerful schoolboy teams but fell to pieces when clean ball wasn't handed to them on a platter in the real rugby world. I'm telling you there are kids out there who didn't stand out to the likes of you, maybe because they may have been in a weak side and weren't flashy, but they never missed a tackle, nailed pressure kicks, and even found touch every single time (not naming names). They are the guys we want-mentally tough who respect the hard won ball provided from their forwards. Some players excel when they get a chance at a higher level with exposure to a higher standard so I'm not going to write off all those blokes training their guts out in club land for nothing but the love of the game and don't think we can just buy our way out of this.
Harry
Guest
Incorrect ... you have to give them your credit card details etc, they can;t just automatically renew. Has to be a concious act to renew, as I will, but then again they could appoint Dick Graham coach for life and I'd still renew.