Quade Cooper's turnaround sees him change from boo boy to Wallaby captaincy contender

FOR the first time in four years, Quade Cooper could be about to play an entire season without being booed.

FOR the first time in four years, Quade Cooper could be about to play an entire season without being booed.

Maybe even in New Zealand.

It has been 18 months in the making but the flyhalf has reversed his public perception to the point where he is being considered for the Wallabies captaincy after the departure of Ben Mowen.

This time last year, Cooper was close to becoming a full-time boxer or leaving for a multimillion-dollar club deal in France because of his frustrations with the Australian Rugby Union.

Yesterday he said that during last year's Super Rugby season no one would have considered him for a leadership role in the Wallabies.

"I look back six months ago and think there's no way that could have happened, to even be thrown in as a possibility,'' Cooper said.

"It is nice to be spoken about in that light, to have guys throw up my name as a possibility of being captain.

"I know that the hard work is paying off but that's where you've got to keep working hard, you can't just stop because someone's mentioned me as a possible Wallabies captain."

That attitude is a far cry from a man thought overrated after poor performances in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Cooper, 25, returned to Reds training this pre-season just nine days after his flight landed in Brisbane from a successful Spring Tour.

This week was meant to be his official return but really he has been training for a month.

"People are going to have different opinions of me whether I like it or not,'' Cooper said of his public perception.

"People will always have split opinions.

"To see some of the things that have been written and said about me … it is heartwarming to think the hard work is being recognised.''

Cooper used to be such a polarising player that even Australian fans disliked him.

He was once relentlessly booed by Brumbies supporters during a Super Rugby game.