Quade Cooper backs Duncan Paia’aua rookie to take his Queensland Red’s spot

UNKNOWN rookie Duncan Paia’aua has been backed to step up in the Queensland No.10 jersey by injured playmaker Quade Cooper.

Cooper backs rookie to take his spot

UNKNOWN rookie Duncan Paia’aua has been backed to step up in the Queensland No.10 jersey by injured playmaker Quade Cooper, who will miss the first three months of Super Rugby after fracturing his collarbone.

While the Reds have former Wallabies five-eighth James O’Connor in their squad, 20-year-old Paia’aua is the man most likely to replace Cooper in the key five-eighth position.

The youngster was lured from the Brisbane Broncos under-20s side, which he guided to last season’s National Youth Competition grand final, won 34-32 by New Zealand Warriors.

Quade Cooper of the Reds in action.

Paia’aua switched to union immediately following the grand final, although he grew up playing the 15-man code before the Broncos signed him in 2013.

He is set to get the first crack at five-eighth when Queensland play a trial against Melbourne Rebels next weekend in Cairns.

“We’ve recruited a young kid, Duncan, he is going really well, all the boys really enjoy him, he is learning every week,” Cooper said.

“We’ve got a few options but he is a guy that in pre-season we’ve been putting in there a lot, making sure we do have cover for that position.

“He is a good kid, I really enjoy his company, I really enjoy him as a teammate.

“I’ve been able to offer him advice because he hasn’t really played much rugby.

“He is a great talent, he has all the skills to be a great player.”

Cooper was injured last Thursday during a “freak accident” at training while playing in an opposed game against the club’s under-20s side.

During the game a rival player put a shoulder charge hit on Cooper, and the physicality increased dramatically increased after that.

Later in the contest Cooper went in to make a tackle in midfield, and as he moved to avoid a head clash his shoulder got jammed, causing the break.

A young Duncan Paiaaua playing in the Queensland U16’s State of Origin team in 2011.

“It was just simple, it was a freak accident, one of the boys picked it up from the back of the scrum and passed to the No.12, I went in to make the tackle and as I was getting out of the way it was shoulder to shoulder contact,” Cooper said.

“I felt my collarbone, I felt the break straight away.”

But Cooper, who missed four months last year due to surgery on the same shoulder, said there is now doubt he will be fit for the World Cup in September.

“For it to happen right now, instead of two months before the World Cup or a month before where you’re racing the clock, at this stage in the season I’ve got time on my side,” Cooper said.

“I’m able to take my time, come back, do everything possible to be in a good position to vie for one of those 30 man spots for the World Cup.

“Having a broken collarbone is probably the easiest thing to come back from, you know they’re going to put a plate in there and it’s going to be nice and strong.”

Cooper will undergo surgery on Tuesday on the same shoulder that required an operation last year, and is unlikely to return before the Reds’ home game against the Hurricanes on April 26.

Originally published as Quade Cooper backs Duncan Paia’aua rookie to take his Queensland Red’s spot