Gavin Cooper keeps on top courtesy of wife’s ethic

Cowboys’ veteran Gavin Cooper has far from given up on his strength and conditioning since the NRL suspended its season. He’s actually upped it.

Gavin Cooper will be keeping fit and firing for the season to resume courtesy of his wife. Picture: Alix Sweeney

COWBOYS’ veteran Gavin Cooper has far from given up on his strength and conditioning since the NRL suspended its season.

He’s actually upped it.

Before they opened their Sporty Kids Australia centre in Garbutt, Cooper’s wife Tenille was a personal trainer.

With the centre temporarily shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, she has dusted off the workout playbook once again in the couple’s garage.

And according to the 310-game veteran, it is tougher than what he was put through at Cowboys HQ.

“They look after me at the club for being a bit older, not so much here in the garage,” Cooper said.

“I have done a couple of sessions at home. Before we opened the Sporty Kids, my wife was actually a personal trainer. She has been running me through my paces in the garage. I have been training with her, it is very different to what we usually do and the body has been feeling it actually.

“The club was really big on us keeping in some shape. Everyone (in the club) is very optimistic (about getting back on field), like everyone in the community is. If we come back in decent shape, we can just concentrate on the footy side of things.

“Everyone has an obligation to keep their fitness standards up and I believe everyone to a man across the board will be doing that.”

Gavin Cooper of the Cowboys crosses over to score a try during the Round One NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville, Friday, March 13, 2020. (AAP Image/Cameron Laird)

Cooper remains optimistic about the season coming back this year, but he knows realistically there is a lot of hurdles to jump before then.

But he knows just how much the Cowboys, and the NRL, means to the people of North Queensland. He knows it is an escape from reality for many, and right now that is something people need desperately.

Cooper, along with the Cowboys club, have called on the community to band together amid the coronavirus pandemic in their ‘Tougher Together’ campaign. He knows it is something Townsville, along with the wider North Queensland community, does well.

“Footy has always brought people together and kept people optimistic about life. No matter what is happening through the week, you could turn to footy on the weekend to get a little bit of an escape,” he said.

“Sticking together as we do in the north, we’re tougher together. That is what we do and what we have always been about. Hopefully that is shining through now more than ever.

“(That support) is always nice to have, it definitely makes it easier. I went to Woollies the other day and everybody is still optimistic. There was a lot of comments like “can’t wait to see you back on the field”. We have got a few hurdles to jump before that can happen.

“That just shows you where people’s attitudes are at in North Queensland and Townsville. It is a tough time for all, everyone is going through their own struggles and what that looks like.

“You would like to think (there is light at the end of the tunnel), being an optimist there is a big light there, but there is a few things in front of that light right now. Footy will be back at some point, we have just got to get through this together and get through it healthy.”

Originally published as Gavin Cooper keeps on top courtesy of wife’s ethic