Quade Cooper says he is ready if called up for Wallabies to meet All Blacks

QUADE Cooper says he’s physically ready for a Wallabies return if called up for the third Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks next week at Suncorp Stadium.

QUADE Cooper says he’s physically ready for a Wallabies return if called up for the third Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks next week at Suncorp Stadium.

But the Queenslander stressed yesterday while playing Test rugby is always a goal, he’ll be solely focusing on performing in a different shade of yellow tonight for Brisbane City against the North Harbour Rays at Brookvale Oval.

In his third game back after shoulder and hip surgery, Cooper is aiming to play his first 80- minute game in five months and it is believed a member of the Wallabies coaching staff will be on hand to monitor his readiness for a recall.

Though several other Wallabies squad members including Nic White will also play NRC this weekend, Will Genia will not turn out for Brisbane City.

Like Genia, however, Cooper is likely to be called in to train with the Wallabies next week but with question marks over the availability of Matt Toomua (concussion) and Kurtley Beale, the Reds playmaker may be an outside chance for a bench role.

“You are always looking for higher honours, and trying to put yourself in the best possible position to put your hand up for that sort of thing,” Cooper told the Daily Telegraph yesterday.

“If it comes, it comes. But I don’t want to disrespect my City teammates, I am focusing fully on putting my best possible effort out there for them. When I turn up at Brookie, I will make sure my mindspace is purely on doing a good job there. Anything that comes off the back of that, so be it.

“If Ewen gives me a phone call, of course (I would say yes), all the boys are looking to do that. But I do know the boys involved already are doing a good job, and are working very hard. “They had a tough loss so I am sure they are keen to bounce back in Brissie.”

Cooper is several weeks into a return to action after undergoing surgery on an AC joint and hip at the same time in May.

He played 20 minutes against Brisbane Country off the bench and then started and played an hour against the Rams at Parramatta Stadium last Friday.

“The idea was that progression ... it’s all making sure my game fitness continues to improve,” Cooper said.

“But in saying that, when it comes to Test match rugby everybody, no matter what sort of condition you’re in, will step up because of the mental side of it.

“There are a lot of players who’ve come back and stepped into a game knowing mentally you just have to turn up.”

Joking he was feeling a “good sore” after the tough Rams encounter — in which his team was pumped — Cooper said he was pleased with the solidity in contact of his rebuilt shoulder.

“I got a few shots and a few little hits the week before, but starting the game and with the boys running hard, I made some tackles and got involved in a few hard collisions,” Cooper said.

“It was good. After the game I was very pleased with where it (the shoulder) was at, and just looking forward to pushing on this week. It was a good week of training, we really stepped up the contact after the Rams defeat.”

Cooper lauded the NRC as a valuable tool to not only give game time to Wallabies aspirants returning from injury, but also to begin gelling new Super Rugby combinations.

“If this competition didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get out there and have footy heading into November and hopefully being involved on the Spring Tour,” he said.

“So it’s not only good for confidence but also match fitness. But it is also being able to play with different guys who potentially we’ll be playing with at the Reds next season, and give those guys opportunities.”

A big league fan, Cooper said he was looking forward to playing at Brookvale Oval in the NRC’s televised game tonight.

“Those sorts of grounds hold a lot of history, no matter what sport it is. You remember little things like that,” he said. “I am really looking forward to it.”

Cooper praised the Reds new signing yesterday, former All Black flanker Adam Thomson, as “a very valuable, experienced player for is a good link player between backs and forwards.”

A Wallabies squad is expected to be named tomorrow ahead of the squad regathering in Brisbane on Sunday.

Wycliff Palu has returned to training with the Waratahs after suffering concussion last month but it is unknown if he will be available for the Test.

Originally published as Quade Cooper says he is ready if called up for Wallabies to meet All Blacks