Quade Cooper is too good a player for Australian rugby to lose, according to Wallabies star Kurtley Beale.
But Cooper’s Queensland Reds teammate James Slipper expects the exiled playmaker will be inundated with offers from overseas and has earned the right to not only do “whatever he wants” but make the decision at his own pace.
Cooper’s career is at a crossroads after he was told last week by new Reds coach Brad Thorn he wasn’t in his plans for 2018 despite having two years to run on his contract.
The 29-year-old has been encouraged to find another club but is yet to indicate his thinking.
“As a mate, I’d like him to stay in Australian rugby. His quality’s just too good,” Beale told reporters on Wednesday.
Slipper would also like to see Cooper stay put preferably at the Reds but said nobody had the right to tell him what to do.
“He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants, really,” Slipper said.
“I don’t think he’ll let people know for a while. I don’t think he has to either.
“It’s obviously a bit of a change-up in his life at the moment and for anyone, that’s a big hurdle to overcome.
“He’s going to take his time and make sure he does it right.
“Quade’s a mentally tough bloke. He’ll just regroup, hang around family for a bit and he’s being positive about it.”
Slipper admitted it was a “shock” to discover Cooper was suddenly on the outer at the Reds, barely a year after the Super Rugby franchise moved heaven and earth to bring him home from Europe.
“For someone of Quade’s capabilities, his profile and his skill set, he’s the type of player who will get quite a few offers overseas and here,” Slipper said.
“Whatever he’s got to do, he’s got to do for himself and when he’s happy … that’s when he plays his best rugby.”
Realist
Guest
I love that nickname ‘The Iceman’, I guess that must make Nic Phipps ‘The Closer’ or ‘The Pass’ Haven’t seen this much cotton wool wrapped around players since Bozo was coaching the Springboks and had a way over-the-hill John Smit in ahead of Bismarck. At least he had Bizzy on the bench though, which is more than you can say of Bogan Chiek
Bakkies
Guest
Knox and he played better Rugby for the Brumbies
Jacko
Guest
Thorn was part of Coaching team at REDS last year so when NABLEY coached him is not rellevent as its THORN making the decision to drop him...As have a number of other coaches
Jacko
Guest
The problem is Peter its 6-9 years since he played great footy...oh sure the odd good game but a fading star no doubt
Jacko
Guest
His imput hasnt worked in the past going by results
Jacko
Guest
Spot on...And you cant blame Thorn for Cheika not selecting him
Jacko
Guest
Thats an issue as he wont get the ARU top up if playing for the Blues but they could get him for $100K and let QLD pay him the rest
Jacko
Guest
Reds past 3 finishing positions with QC in the team is 13th, 13th, and 14th....What do you rate as a fail?
Jacko
Guest
Guys they finished 14th this year......So when did he carve them up???? Peter said its EASY....Why is it not happening if its so easy??? It gets me that all year AUS fans have been whinging about having no no 10 depth...how all the no 10s...and no 9s for that matter...are average...all same same....Then a coach says stuff this its time to do something and you light up the pages with anti Thorn vitriol......Quade can do some absolutely rediculous amazing stuff but he does it very little these days and has become a AVERAGE no 10 with no improvement left in him....Quade Cooper is the past...
Jacko
Guest
Fionn i dont see any major success from him teaching any younger players....The results from QCs last 3 seasons at the reds are 13th 13th and 14th so not exactly setting the world on fire and he gets injured a fair bit with only playing 12 games last season ( this year) so I genuinely do not see what Thorn has to lose....Give a couple of new blokes a shot as the same old guys are not cutting it CUW if you believe a team member who has had a public dummy spit about team and coaching culture being bad is a good leader then you are believing in the exception rather than the normal as there are very few examples of success. The England captain would be one example but he was an outcast due to his ill dicipline on the field not off it like QC has been
Jacko
Guest
CUW you have surprised me...I thought you followed rugby closer than not knowing that in Thorns FIRST coaching gig he WON the NRC with the team that finished wooden spoon the year before...That = no coaching success to you but to me that means 100% win record as a head coach
Jacko
Guest
Dave its not QLD supporters wanting Quade to play for them....PeterK doesnt even support the REDS so I certainly understand why he WANTS QC to play for them...It give his team a better shot at winning
Jacko
Guest
Real shame you didnt read the question Marto...When did Foley play for QLD?
Jacko
Guest
Bring back....Not an assertion, just an observation. .Where did you observe Thorn hating QC from 2011 and dropping because of this? Seems more like a fabrication rather than an observation to me
Jacko
Guest
And then the Club Drs say that is rubbish you are fired for breach of contract for refusing to play...And I believe he is sitting a few out regardless.....
Jacko
Guest
It cant be TWAS as he never answers a question....Hmmmmm
JP
Guest
^ Like Phipps then Gray-Hand .
JP
Guest
Now if only Cheika can get rid of Foley.He`s told Thorn to discard Cooper,can Cheika now tell Gibson to do the same with the " Iceman " ? The Waratahs need to move forward.
Hoy
Roar Guru
"Elite rugby players as we approach 2020 must have all the skills to be an elite player." At yet, more and more in Australia, we are putting our faith in half baked players without the complete skill sets required... Foley - Can't tackle either, and his attack isn't very good now you mention it... Beale - Can't tackle, and he certainly can't seem to be able to catch high balls... Hodge - Can't pass one way, takes forever to kick a ball out of hand... Hanigan - Can't clean out a ruck, can't make ground with ball in hand... Kerevi - Can't tackle at 13.
Marto
Guest
Foley