Quade Cooper to make his comeback from shoulder surgery in Queensland NRC grudge match

QUADE Cooper’s team of urbane “librarians” are bracing for an onslaught from the rum-drinking country boys in an NRC grudge match at Ballymore.

Queensland Reds Quade Cooper visiting Townsville ahead of the Townsville Rugby Union finals this weekend. Picture: Wesley Monts

QUADE Cooper must be wondering what he got himself into.

Four months since his last game, the Reds flyhalf will today make his comeback from shoulder and hip injuries in the National Rugby Championship for Brisbane City against Queensland Country.

In that time, the rugby landscape has changed dramatically.

His Queensland teammates have been split between the two NRC outfits who have embraced the us against them mentality.

On one side, Country is aching to knock off their City mates.

They identify themselves as underdogs, and celebrate success in true country fashion by drinking a nip of rum from ceremonial pewter mugs given to them by Alliance Hotel publican, and former Brisbane Wests backrower Nick Gregorski.

Country perceive City as “the Real Madrid” of the NRC, and teasingly refer to them as straight-laced librarians.

This is the cultural collision waiting for Cooper this afternoon at Ballymore where third-placed City face a severely injury depleted Country outfit.

Cooper will start from the bench, behind his protege, Sunnybank and former Australia Schoolboys flyhalf Jake McIntyre.

JJ Taulagi of Queensland Country makes a break against the Greater Sydney Rams.

When he enters the contest it will be his first opportunity to link with rising backline stars, centre Samu Kerevi and Chris Kuridrani.

“If you look at the bigger picture, if this competition didn’t exist they wouldn’t be getting this valuable experience,” Cooper said.

“I’m looking forward to playing with them.

“Samu’s really stepped his game up. He’s gone from a schoolkid coming in and out (of Reds training) to a professional player.”

The underdog spirit will appeal to stand-in Country skipper Beau Robinson whose only previous captaincy experience was with the Warringah Rats in Sydney’s Shute Shield.

He lives and breathes country rugby, and only last month made a cameo for the Condamine Cods at Toowoomba’s Heritage Oval.

Country must overcome the loss of centre Anthony Faingaa, prop Greg Holmes, hooker Tonga Ma’afu and centre Rota Setu.

In comes Townsville siblings Michael and Andrew Parker to provide cover in the front row.

Country coach Steve Meehan has been plotting ways to negate City’s all-Reds back row of Liam Gill, Jake Schatz and Curtis Browning.

There are no shortcuts. Ball runners must have support or risk having the pockets picked by noted pilferer Gill, while workhorse Schatz must be challenged at the lineout.

“They’re a very good back row, a side that has played together at Super Rugby level before,” Meehan said.

“It comes down to attitude.”

Originally published as Quade Cooper to make his comeback from shoulder surgery in Queensland NRC grudge match