Rugby Australia have reportedly put on the table a five-year contract extension for Michael Hooper to keep him in Australia and lock him away for the upcoming 2019 and 2023 World Cups.
It is the longest deal ever offered by Rugby Australia to an individual player, a sign of the times perhaps that the code is becoming more like the NRL and AFL where such contracts are common.
The five-year deal is said to be one of a range of options that Hooper has been offered as possible contract extensions by the governing body.
It could also have the effect of putting Hooper in the spotlight to a greater degree at a time where Rugby’s most recognisable face, Israel Folau, has become a controversial figure.
Hooper is yet to commit to playing in Super Rugby beyond the 2018 season, but did offer some comments recently that suggest Australia is where he sees his future.
“You can’t get caught up in looking too far down the track. You have to focus on the here and now. That’s where my head is at,” said Hooper.
“These things take time . There are a lot of things going on, as you can imagine. Whenever that time arrives, so be it.
“I love playing rugby in Australia. It is such a great place to play rugby. There is a great talent pool and we have a lot of players coming up who are hungry to win, and that’s something that is exciting.”
Concerned Rugby Fan
Guest
The idea of offering Hooper a 5 year deal is ridiculous. He is not the best player in his position in Australia and there is no reason to expect that this will change in the next 5 years. RA needs to be very careful in how they proceed, they need to take notice of the debacle that has occurred at CA with players believing that they are bigger than the game, yes a certain VC. There seems to be similarities starting to appear at RA.
Lorry
Guest
Agree, Mitchell was excellent. He could kick, tackle, run, score tries and pass, many wingers cannot do that. And he actually got better as he got older, which is rare for a winger. He should have been always first selected over the decade he played with the Wallabies, and a shame about the injuries. Waugh in his prime was certainly better as a flanker than Hooper, perhaps not Pocock, but close. Also, Whitaker was as good a defender as Genia, a better passer, but a weaker runner.
Bakkies
Guest
John the people who ruin Australian Rugby are paid idiots not paid professionals.
Bakkies
Guest
Agreed. If you want to keep losing test matches have Hooper as your captain. Pretty good for a yellow card too. I don't buy that he shirks the hard stuff due to his lack of size. That is due to Cheika as played over the ball at the Brumbies under his coaches there.
MA
Guest
Your joking right?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
He'd be a better 10 if he could kick goals reliably. He is a fine tradesman and I respect his guts and D considering he does not have the natural talent other Aust 10's have had.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Red Block: Another great example of RA's and our coaches inability to recognise talent. If Thorn could get him in the Reds then, I think, that will make a big difference to the Reds. I think Gill is a better ball winning 7 than Hooper...
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Agree Fionn and with PeterK. This is madness again and I thought the castle was supposed to bring some order. Hooper is a great linker and defender and should have been a centre to my mind (bit short though) in the Tim Horan mould. When comparing him to Pocock he is a poor second #7 and both of them fall behind George Smith in my book. Where are the young 7's to take on Pocock at his game? Why are we not focused on that? Then the OP taking a little swipe at Folau and displaying his political leanings shows how far away from reality we are in Australia at the moment. Doesn't anyone realise that winning the games and the quality of young talent we can utilse is of paramount importance? Oh! YES one does - Brad Thorn. Strikes me that the rest of them do not know which way is up!
rebel
Guest
This comments section sums up Aus rugby politics. Imagine how much they could achieve if they all pulled in the same direction.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
And send embarrassing txts to Beale which he forwards, and then carries the can for. Sorry, good player, but let your mates carry the can....not a person I’d be interested in as a leader.
Andy
Guest
Could we get a 10 year contract dean mumm
Andy
Guest
Thanks for you input drongo
Andy
Guest
You forgot the www. What does that stand for again
Brisvegas
Guest
Polls tell us how bad the government is performing and we believe them. One says white the other says black. Not a fan of Hooper but he is the best Australia has right now also Folau is the pin up guy for RA. Unless someone can name a different player etc.
Peter Kelly
Guest
Who even puts Software Developers in this country, better educated and cheaper in many other countries and usually work harder as they really want the work.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
In that poll, just as many people think he isn’t the best as think he is. That isn’t exactly conclusive is it?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
How qualified are these 100k to make this choice? Who knows. Also, if 1/2 think he is the best, then 1/2 think he is not. You could hardly call that conclusive evidence he is the best could you?
Peter Kelly
Guest
Let's check world rugby player of the year, not won by either Folau or Foley or Hooper. Hooper 1 nomination, Pocock 3.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Do you think perhaps, Folau shines and dominants stats because he doesn’t have the internal competition? Being the only strong finisher he gets the lions share of opportunities? Not saying he isn’t a strong finisher, he is, but he doesn’t have to compete like say, an AB, who may have a few other strike players to share the points with. My point is it is hard to compare different players in different teams from different times.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
He trains really well too, I bet.