Former St George Illawarra centre Matt Cooper has sent the rumour mill into overdrive after cryptically explaining on social media about his absence at a recent reunion for the 2010 premiership-winning side.
Copper, who played 243 games for the Dragons, apologised through Twitter for missing the event, but managed to raise even more questions surrounding issues with former members of the club.
“I want to apologise to my 2010 premiership team for not attending the 10-12 year reunion,” he tweeted.
“The reason why I did not attend was I didn’t want to make a scene and ruin a special occasion … knowing former CEO and a player who did not even play in the game were going to be there.”
As per Fox Sports, Cooper sent a follow-up tweet admitting it was the ‘only way to let the players know why I wasn’t there.’
“With the why, it has to do with what happened to me when I retired, I’m not ready to share that right now, but the truth will come out next year.”
After further prodding from his followers, Cooper revealed that former CEO Peter Doust is involved.
But who the former player Copper was referring to is still unknown.
Mark Gasnier, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Michael Weyman Trent Merrin Ben Creagh, Jason Nightingale, Ben Hornby and Jamie Soward all attended. Even former coach Wayne Bennett flew from Queensland from his first pre-season with the Dolphins for the festivities.
The Daily Telegraph spoke to a player who attended the function who said they were “a bit shocked but more saddened” by Cooper’s absence.
“It was noticed that ‘Coops’ wasn’t there,” said the player. “He obviously has his issues with Doust. I’m not sure which player he was referring to in his tweet. There were a few players there that played with us that season but didn’t play in the grand final.”
This isn’t the first social media spray Copper has given his former club. When only three players attended the 2022 awards night, he was quick to comment. “The club has no loyalty and honour anymore. That all stopped when Wayne Bennett left.”
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Dragons tragics and Rugby League tragics and journos and commentators and supporters must all be bored shiteless. That should improve now that we have test cricket back on the box and on the radio thankfully :happy: I’ve put in more than my two cents worth on Coopergate but really it’s all much ado about not much. Great player, good bloke by most accounts and enjoys a bit of the limelight . So what? He can have his say about the Dragons just as we all do. But still… I stand by ‘bored shiteless’.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Steve Price missed the 2004 GF I'm pretty sure. Is he meant to sit at home playing scrabble and drinking tea with half a dozen Iced Vo Vo's when that team has a reunion?
UAP
Guest
I wouldn't say limited skills Maxp. A very competent footballer in his time who now needs to forgive and forget
G money
Roar Rookie
Notice me notice me.. cooper has lways been a show pony
Phil
Roar Rookie
Silly man. He should have kept his grievances to himself and put forward an apology for not attending. Someone here suggested Cooper could have a book about to be released and such a thought could have merit but I seriously doubt any publisher would put to print a book from a RL player who is a decade past his glory days. Time will tell.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
This from the WWOS site: "I want to wait until next season and the footy shows are back on TV to reach a maximum audience," Cooper told Wide World of Sports' The Mole. FFS.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I am sure there was than one person he didn't get on with at a club over a long period of time - Geez i mean Craig and Dean Young were at the club while he was there :silly: . But this one obviously ground his gears. So its interesting when there isn't much else going on especially given Cooper himself wasn't known to be a difficult person.
SteveO
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hey Andrew, you've put in the groundwork with players who didn't play in the GF. So Mat didn't get on with a player, that's normal in any workplace. The only news I'm concerned with at the Dragons is Cody Ramsey's health, hope he gets better.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Well it is off season and we are bored... so Dragons players from 2010 who didn't play in the GF include; Nic Emmitt, Fai Fai loa Jon Green Michael Greenfield Dan Hunt Jake Marketo Michael Lett Kyle Stanley Luke Priddis Ricky Thorby Cameron King Of that lot, Priddis and Nick Emmitt, never played in the NRL after 2010 and Lett, Cam King (who i have never heard a bad word about) and Fai Fai Loa never played for the Dragons again. Feel free to speculate
andrew
Roar Rookie
So Matt didn't go to the GF reunion. That's earth shattering news.
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
thank goodness public Twitter was available to let him advise his team mates why he wasn't there , as opposed to phoning them, or texting them, relevancy deprivation syndrome at work.
max power
Guest
ex player with limited skills outside of football is bitter and twisted. not really a story
Tony
Roar Guru
Hard to figure, isn't it
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
It's an unusual spray. I've never heard anyone at the dragons say a bad word about O.W Doust
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Nah - just looking for attention. I'd say he has a book coming out. Perhaps he is. If he wanted to let his team mates know why he wasn't going he could have done so without letting the thousands of others know. Apparently we are all supposed to wait on the edge of our seats now to hear the rest of the story.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Long time to hold a grudge but he's honest enough to let people know how he feels . He obviously has his reasons and feels strongly about whatever went on . Until we find out the truth which may never be unearthed it's a bit hard to be judgemental.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I don’t know what Matt Cooper does for a job these days, but I’m guessing it is linked to social media and publicity. Sad.
dogs
Guest
Come on Roar, you're better than this. Leave the tabloid gossip pieces to Fox etc