The ball is in Quade Cooper’s court whether he wants to play for the Wallabies again but all indications are the exiled Queensland Reds star is sticking to his guns.
The five-eighth has been told by coach Brad Thorn there’s no road back for him at the Reds and by Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham that playing club rugby won’t help him win back his Test spot.
But the 30-year-old appears determined to prove them wrong.
Cooper’s social media activity on Thursday morning suggests he’s committed to what he fittingly describes as “mission impossible”.
“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,” he wrote on Instagram.
“The more difficult it is to reach the destination, the more you will remember and appreciate the journey.”
The Reds and Rugby Australia would dearly love that destination to be either Melbourne or Canberra, or pretty much anywhere else other than Brisbane.
The Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies have made approaches but have been knocked back, with Cooper seemingly content to stay close to his family and friends and remain with Souths in the small pond of Brisbane Premier Rugby.
Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle admits there’s nothing she can do to change his mind, with Cooper contracted until the end of next year on a deal worth $650,000 a season.
Along with another banished Reds player, Karmichael Hunt, it represents a $1 million-plus drain on the national governing body’s finances.
“We can’t command (a move) to happen,” Castle told Fox Sports.
“He’s contracted with the Reds and if he wants to stay there and play club rugby, that’s what he’s allowed to do in the contract.
“As an athlete himself you would think he would want to be presenting himself on the best stage and playing in the highest level of competition – that’s what high-performance athletes are about.”
Cooper’s manager, Khoder Nasser, has been contacted for comment.
Katipo
Guest
Pretty sure that Quade's plan is to continue cynically receiving the contract payments he's entitled to before switching to league for a couple seasons playing with his mate Sonny Bill.
RobC
Roar Guru
Rich, thanks for sharing assuming youre personally familiar with his sentiments About "wrong things in the past": - if youre referring to 2013 toxic and prior to that etc. Most reasonable people will agree - imo he has not much to atone for anymore - He has demonstrated good character - Even Alan Jones likes him Harassing Sir Richie will never be forgiven nor forgotten by Kiwis in NZ and Aus. He's a bit like Richard Hadlee to us I guess, for similar reasons
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Surely hunts misdemeanours would warrant his contract being terminated.
Rich
Guest
Quade wants to play for Reds again and feels gutted by his treatment. He understands he’s done a few things wrong in the past but feels he’s paid his dues by now. I agree with his thoughts but I’m not in a position to make decisions on his future. Not sure what will change minds but people need to think seriously about their personal agendas.
RobC
Roar Guru
QC is good. Want to see more of him BT doesn't. Yet. Which is how things are. QC showing great character by trying to win QRU back: - The $650,000 pay packet helps - But that's how things are
RobC
Roar Guru
Train. It's riddler being riddler. He's enjoying the absence of QC from the Reds and doesn't want to ruin the fun!
Bootlicker
Guest
EJ at it again,You think the Wallaby fans are enjoying the cr@P the wallabies have dished up with Foley as their 10 ? Keep going mate , you are now known as ole baby bye eyes.
soapit
Guest
riddler you really think its unreasonable he focuses his positive energy on the teams he's currently playing in?
Rhys Bosley
Guest
He got two cards in 2017, one red for a high tackle in Super Rugby that cost him a three match suspension and another yellow for the same offence in the Barbarians game, which probably cost his team the match. He also got at least one other penalty for a high tackle during the season. His high tackling is a deal breaker and after ten years at the top he should have taken responsibility to correct it, he didn't and his time has run out.
Bakkies
Guest
'who pays for club rugby players eh?' Sydney Uni. I am surprised that they haven't made him an offer to end their premiership drought.
Bakkies
Guest
That's if his body holds up. He has barely played in the past two years. He was eligible to play for the Wallabies as he was born in Australia what were the RA doing to try and recruit him before he was capped by England?
Doctordbx
Guest
And what should he do exactly?
Pistol Pete
Guest
if it only was qc, and not izzy, that dropped h-bombs in public...
Pistol Pete
Guest
billy vunipola mentioned that he intends to finish his career in australia in an interview earlier this week. too bad that another top class number 8 who is not qualified for the wallabies is exactly not what australian rugby need. but i doubt he will be seen down under before the world cup 2023.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Didn’t Nick Stiles agree with the assessment calling his form in 2017 as wildly inconsistent? Saying that he had been struggling with a medial ligament injury and foot injury. As well as ongoing issues with his hip and shoulder. He needed time away to get his body right. He wasn’t enjoying himself. That’s on Cooper and him alone.
PeterK
Roar Guru
he knew it when cheika dropped him for not looking like he was enjoying himself playing rugby , and with no other 10 in the squad.
Jacko
Guest
Cooper is doing what Cooper has always done...Suiting himself...
Rhys Bosley
Guest
The interest Cooper has generated in Brisbane club rugby means dumping him from the Reds is probably the best investment the QRU could have made in grass roots footing in this state, so I don't see the big deal with him sticking around. Let him play his club footy and be with his family in Brisbane in peace, he will only be around another season and then he can go off and do whatever he wants. Personally I hope he gives fighting some decent opponents in the ring a go. It seems to be a passion and a way of him being the best he can, without having to rely on others. I don't really care for Folau coming to Queensland either. He has been acting like he is bigger than either of his teams for a long time now and I reckon he would be disruptive to the Reds new "team-first culture. Next year at least Lance will have moved on, so there will be an opportunity to hire another 10/15 option, and given the Red's success in recruiting and developing new talent in the next few years, I reckon that they might be able to find somebody really good. Alternatively it would give the club the chance to keep a player or two who might be tempted by overseas money.
Jacko
Guest
hardly the first...QC has been dropped by 4 other coaches at least
Jacko
Guest
The silly thing is Malo that the fee would be a lot smaller than it costs to run RA, and the results a lot better