How Super Rugby exile was the making of Quade Cooper
What to most onlookers appeared a season of discontent might just have been the making of an enigmatic rugby five-eighth named Quade Cooper.
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What to most onlookers appeared a season of discontent might just have been the making of an enigmatic rugby five-eighth named Quade Cooper.
Cooper is a 30-year-old veteran of 70 Tests who for much of 2018 was relegated to club football in Brisbane at the behest of Queensland Reds coach and All Blacks legend Brad Thorn.
For one of Australia’s most recognisable rugby heads, and one on a reported $650,000, it was a fair old serve of humble pie to swallow. And it wasn’t as if the Reds or Wallabies were setting the world on fire, both lurching from one insipid performance after another.
Far from sulking or being bitter, Cooper believes it was a year in which he learnt more about himself than any other.
“A lot of people ask me about last season which I totally understand. To know what I know now, last season was my best, the most refreshing. I learnt to think for myself again and not be too reliant on other people to make me better,” said Cooper this week from his new Melbourne Reds home at AAMI Park.
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“When it first happened, to be playing club football, I didn’t know how to attack it. Then all of a sudden I realised I could really make an impact on my teammates who would never normally get the opportunity to be mentored by someone who has been through the experiences I’ve been through.
“And I knew it had nothing to do with my ability given the situation was forced upon me. So I looked at how could I impact other people, what could I do to help the people around me. People who have supported me my whole career.
“A lot of the time people talk about grassroots but there’s not a lot of action. So for me to be able to play every week, bring some crowds and get some money for the club was good. And we won some games.”
To explain the change in his outlook, Cooper relates a story involving one of his former Super Rugby coaches. It was in a final in New Zealand against the Crusaders, and as often happens in that land, the Kiwis were giving Cooper and his mates a touch-up.
At halftime Cooper sort out his coach to discuss their game plan, which had been broken down by the rabid Crusaders. The pair were unable to find the answers with defeat being conclusive and stunning.
He remained frustrated over the ensuing years as he searched for an answer, until it came in the unlikely surrounds of club football with Souths this year: “I was having a bite to eat with the same coach and told him I had worked out how to combat that Crusaders loss. The moral is that until I had moved outside “the system”, I had the blinkers on couldn’t see clearly. Suddenly I could see everything,” said Cooper.
During his banishment, Cooper got used to reading attacks on his character from people who had never bothered to truly find out what made him tick. Then along came Rebels coach Dave Wessels: “He took time out to come up to Brisbane to see me, to get to know me as a person. Person first, footballer after. I respect him a lot for doing that.”
Now Cooper wants to repay the club that has provided him with a second chance to ignite a career that when on song, plays its part in the reasons they call Rugby “the game they play in heaven”.
QUADE COOPER ON ...
THE MELBOURNE REBELS
I was blown away at the positive nature of the environment. There is a lot of talent in this group, but you have to have guys who are dogs, guys who will fight. And this team will fight like dogs. We will play in an innovative way. We want to be leaders in the way the game should be played.
AGE NO BOUNDARY
Because of the year I had last year, I can’t look too far forward. My body is good, my mind is refreshed. It’s not about getting back to my best level, it’s about surpassing it. And as such l’m selling the house in Brisbane because it’s about fully committing to the Rebels, whether that’s for one year or longer.
AS FOR ANY SELF DOUBTS
None whatsoever. It’s about being present in the moment and enjoying it. The way I was playing in club football was the way I should have been playing. Importantly my teammates were standing out. One is now with me at the Rebels. To see those guys elevated, maybe through some extra attention I brought, meant people were looking.
MOVING TO MELBOURNE
I love the multicultural vibe of Melbourne. I’ve lived in cities in Europe and this is similar in that you leave your apartment and there are so many places to eat. Any type of cuisine, so much creativity with the architecture, the art on street walls. The city it reminds me of is New York when you are talking about that vibe. It seems here people are encouraged to be creative, whereas in a lot of cities expression is frowned upon.
I live in South Yarra with my girlfriend Laura and our two dogs Chuck and Riddick who are American staffordshires. They are really lazy compared with the English staffies.
LEARNING FROM OTHER SPORTS
In the past I haven’t been one to go to other sports. For us going to sport is your work, a bit of a chore. But in the US I went to a few NBA games when I felt part of the event, part of the fun. And now living in Melbourne I’m hoping for that same feeling, being part of catching the tram with other supporters, walking into the ground rather than getting a coach in. I know a few AFL boys like Daniel Rich, Mitch Robinson, Buddy (Franklin) and Sharrod Wellingham well.
GLOVES ARE STILL ON
I really love it. When things were going on in my last season I looked at it more seriously. I think I could get to a reasonable level. I sit around 85-86 kg when I’m not training, so I believe I could get to light heavyweight (79kg). But would I lose too much muscle if I dropped that much weight.? Some boxers haven’t had the advantage of having the training base that someone like me has had for the past 15 years.
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Originally published as How Super Rugby exile was the making of Quade Cooper
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