'Above my pay grade': Quade admits Test campaign could be over this week in club vs country tussle

By Tony Harper / Editor

Quade Cooper says he’s the man stuck in the middle of ongoing negotiations between Rugby Australia and his Japanese club and still has no idea if he will be joining the Wallabies on the European leg of the spring tour.

The Wallabies reborn playmaker is likely to feature in Saturday’s Test against Japan, even though it falls outside an official window where clubs must release players.

There are suggestions that Cooper would prefer to miss the Tests against Scotland, England and Wales to recover after his unexpected heroics in the Wallabies’ four wins against South Africa and Argentina, but the Wallabies are eager to have him aboard for the journey, without damaging relations with his club. Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon are in similar situations.

But Cooper was cagey on the issue at a Wallabies press conference on Tuesday, wanting to pay respect to both the Wallabies and Kintetsu Liners, and said he was unsure when his status would be resolved.

Asked if he was free to play on Saturday, Cooper answered: “I assume so. We’ve been training all week but it’s a little above our pay grade, those sorts of things.

“We just jump on the bus when we’re told, put a bib on if we’re asked to, and go about our business. It’s been a great week of preparation, preparing each of us for a tough game against Japan and everyone who’s here is excited about the opportunity.”

(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Pressed on his participation in the following three Tests, Cooper added: “I’m not 100% sure.

“There’s conversations are still happening behind the scenes between both the Wallabies and Kintetsu.”

Cooper made it clear that he would be happy to rejoin his club instead of touring.

“I really enjoyed the past eight to 10 weeks that I’ve had in the [Wallabies] setup,” he said.

“It’s been a great opportunity to learn and continue to grow. But at the same time, there’s great things that I’ve learned that I look forward to being able to take back to my club.

“Ours is a club that’s ambitious and really looking to grow and move through the Japanese ranks and valued information that I’ve been able to learn I look forward to taking that back at some point.

“Those conversations are continuing, but in saying that they are my employer and I have the utmost respect for them and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had to be able to participate in this so whenever I’m due back, I’ll follow whatever is asked of me.”

He said the majority of talks are between RA and his club.

“I’m the player,” he said. “I’ve been able to have discussions with both around where I stand, being in the middle of it. I love playing for my country.

“It’s a huge honour every opportunity you get. And for me even being back in the squad was something that I hadn’t planned for. So I guess it’s uncharted territory. It’s all happened fairly quickly.

“I’m just truly grateful for [Kintetsu) allowing me to be here as long as they have. We’ve been on six months of holiday, which is, throughout my career, getting six weeks off is something you never fathom.

“So being able to have five to six months off in Australia, and then I spent two to three of that, in the Wallabies set up I’m grateful for that. And it’s been a great opportunity to continue to learn and continue to grow.

Sports opinion delivered daily 

   

“Even as a 33 year old, I feel that I’ve learned so much. When I take that back to my club, I just look forward to that. Whenever that may be.”

Cooper’s return to the Wallabies came as a surprise to all, so it makes sense it also caught his club off guard. They would not have bargained for his return to international rugby after four years in the wilderness.

“The role was more of the guys to have a look at me and being able to mentor and participate in trainings,” Cooper said.

“Being able to play games those conversations will have been had behind the scenes.

“I’m really enjoying this but, at the same time, I’m looking forward to getting back to my club.

“Being able to prepare with my teammates and look forward to the season ahead. I know it’s an important season for for Kintetsu with fans being able to come back to the game, that buzz being back in Japan for rugby here, I’m looking forward to being part of it.”

The Crowd Says:

2021-10-20T19:45:21+00:00

Aiden

Guest


I think he’s being smart. Japan is very much a culture of respect. A less charitable way of looking at it is, if you massively kiss arse, you go far. Example, like many gaijin I let my gaijin card lapse. It was a visa requirement to be processed at the immigration office periodically. One day a cop shows up and charges me. Basically, they tell you to front up at immigration and they can kick you out of the country. But like everyone else I was encouraged to write a letter of apology. Oh, I was so stupid and ignorant, you are my gracious hosts, how can you ever forgive me. And off scot free. Our immigration are not like that, rules are rules. But the Japanese love it when you get down on your knees, and then they basically cave.

2021-10-20T10:13:15+00:00

TJ-Go Force!

Roar Rookie


Yep that’s how I see it. Rennie will want to beat Scotland given his history there so they will be 100% full strength there. Then England we haven’t beaten them in 6 years so it’s all out against the Poms. Wales seems the obvious game to rest QC because we have a great record in Cardiff and I think JOC will be ready to start by then. If he doesn’t start against Japan this weekend.

2021-10-20T10:11:32+00:00

TJ-Go Force!

Roar Rookie


Yep that’s how I see it too Rhys.

2021-10-20T06:02:19+00:00

Alan Jones

Guest


For every hit on the future click-bait item, my fee is 10000 dollars (AUD) per hit please.

2021-10-20T03:13:59+00:00

Rhys

Roar Rookie


Beat England please and thank you. Joc wouldn't be too bad as a 10 with White at 9 anyway I reckon.

2021-10-20T01:27:52+00:00

Alec

Guest


Bit of this will be welcomed: https://youtu.be/gWsSRyUZ38M

2021-10-20T00:02:11+00:00

fiwiboy7042

Roar Rookie


The window doesn't apply to all of November. Most likely back half of the month.

2021-10-19T23:28:45+00:00

Reds Harry

Roar Rookie


Just read today's piece on this matter in The Aus .. lots of ye olde backgrounding and "its understood" with a reference to Quade on a 7 figure salary. Sigh.

2021-10-19T22:16:02+00:00

Reds Harry

Roar Rookie


Can someone enlighten me here. I thought there was a set rule that all clubs anywhere in the world MUST release players during November as its deemed an "international window". Anyway as the Quadester said, beyond his pay grade, and we don't know all the issues. Lets see who runs out. I see there were a few articles in the News Limited stable shreeking about players turning their back on rugby etc and old mate Piccone manages McMahon (I was not aware until a few weeks ago that Anthony was solely responsible for developing Sean McMahon :laughing: ) and Kerevi so no doubt a few games being played.

2021-10-19T22:02:53+00:00

Big A

Roar Rookie


i've been thinking about all this since we started reconnecting with the exiles - we were lucky that due to covid everyone has dropped their guard abit when it comes to hard nosed contract implementation - now that the dust is settling - it's back to BAU - the clubs win every time - follow the money as they say. We should get back to the original mantra of getting our young guys up to speed as quickly as possible - this whole O/S player injection is a false dawn - it's a distraction and will severely disrupt any momentum that the squad had a few weeks ago.

2021-10-19T20:55:59+00:00

Bobby

Roar Rookie


Why ? I'd like to beat Wales JD. :happy:

2021-10-19T20:11:39+00:00

Gray-Hand

Roar Rookie


Like a scene from the matrix - they unloaded a full clip at him there.

2021-10-19T19:16:33+00:00

Bobby

Roar Rookie


JOC would be very supportive of the Japanese POV :stoked:. :stoked: :stoked:

2021-10-19T15:51:30+00:00

JD Kiwi

Roar Rookie


That would be a good outcome. Let JOC play against Wales.

2021-10-19T14:12:29+00:00

TJ-Go Force!

Roar Rookie


Think he’s playing a smart game here QC. He knows there could be bigger fish to fry than the EYOT. Ie next year’s bled and TRC. I personally think he will come away, play Scots and Eng. then miss the Welsh game in Cardiff. Return home a week earlier.

2021-10-19T13:33:57+00:00

Doctordbx

Roar Rookie


I don't think The Roar servers could handle that.

2021-10-19T12:38:41+00:00

Doctordbx

Roar Rookie


We're all about honouring contracts around here.

2021-10-19T11:35:15+00:00

pm

Roar Rookie


Maybe I am stating the obvious here (or maybe I am wrong) , but presumably it's about treating his club and contract with the proper respect. They are being gracious and benevolent if they do release him but it should not be treated presumptuously in the meantime

2021-10-19T10:57:50+00:00

AndyS

Guest


Might think it is above his pay grade, but it will be very much his problem in future if so many get their way. It appears everyone is being very polite and not rocking any boats, but it is an international release period they are talking about. So is this the future: RA having to negotiate and strike a deal for every player? Or is the expectation that they should get them regardless of what the club team thinks? If it is the latter, it very much becomes Cooper's problem and it doesn't sound like a sure thing he would be opting for a couple of Tests in Britain...

2021-10-19T10:47:55+00:00

Adam

Guest


Quite the non-story really. Everyone paying attention to Rugby knew his priorities are to the club that pays his salary. Rens has said this repeatedly in press conferences too, for about a month now. Also, I would like to see JoC in the 10 saddle for northern tour. Even if it’s half and half share on 10. Particularly against England.

More Comments on The Roar

Read more at The Roar