Queensland Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper won't be hidden in defence this Super Rugby season

QUADE Cooper’s days in the last line of defence are over, with Reds coach Richard Graham confirming the flyhalf will defend in midfield.

QUADE Cooper's days in the last line of defence are over.

Reds coach Richard Graham says the flyhalf’s tactical stints at fullback have run their full course and he will defend in the midfield next season.

Wallabies coach and former Queensland boss Ewen McKenzie shielded Cooper from the heavy collision zone during the 2011 and 2012 Super Rugby seasons.

He has spent more time in the No. 10 channel since his international resurrection during the Rugby Championship and that is where he is set to remain, according to Graham.

“I was part of the Wallabies staff when Quade played inside centre in the (2008) Grand Slam tour,” Graham said.

“I know he defends well in the front line.

“His (breakout) year in 2011, the laws changed, and it suited to play him at fullback

“I’ve got no concerns with him defending in the front line.”

Cooper and halfback Will Genia will command some of Super Rugby’s fastest finishers in 2014.

Former Waratah Lachie Turner ran with his new teammates for the first time when the Reds kicked off pre-season training at Ballymore.

Turner upstaged NRL stars Ben Barba, Jarryd Hayne and Josh Morris to win the Fastest Man in Football race in 2010, and will be in the wing-fullback mix with Dom Shipperley, Rod Davies and Aidan Toua.

“He’s big and quick, I think he’ll suit our game,” Graham said.

“He’s quite famous for his win in that Bolt.

“He comes with genuine speed.”

Turner played 15 Tests for the Wallabies but was sidelined last season with a broken leg.

As recently as July he expected to continue playing for the Waratahs before a change of heart, and a pitch from the new Queensland coach, prompted his connection with New South Wale’s fierce enemy.

“Richard Graham sold me," he said.

His 71-game Super Rugby experience will strengthen a backline which has lost Digby Ioane (Stade Francais), Luke Morahan (Western Force) and Jono Lance (Waratahs).

Graham said his challenge would be to equip his players with greater decision-making abilities in attack and defence.

He argued there was little point in wielding speed and strength without the wisdom and subtlety to expose opponents.

“I’d like to see us more in motion,” he said, citing the All Blacks’ as an example of knowing how to link and target the right breakdowns to contest.

“We probably operated (seperately) as forwards and backs a little bit.

“The game’s evolving at the breakdown.

“Teams are making better defensive decisions at the breakdown, whether they compete or not.

“They’ve (All Blacks) led the way. Particularly in the Rugby Championship.”

There is just one spot remaining in the Reds’ fulltime squad for next season.

They resumed training yesterday, minus their Wallabies contingent, as a host of fresh faces began their starting XV auditions beside stalwarts Liam Gill, James Hanson, Ben Tapuai and greg Holmes.

Graham is confident he will have a healthy list by January, with only Davies (knee) expected to miss the Round 1 season-opener against the Cheetahs in Brisbane.