From mullet-wearing show pony to team man, Quade Cooper’s evolution just about complete

WHEN the 2009 Wallabies dressed up like alter egos of teammates for a bonding night, the Quade Cooper clone generated more laughs than most.

Quade Cooper polarises rugby fans, critics, selectors and coaches. It is part of his mystique.

WHEN the 2009 Wallabies dressed up like alter egos of teammates for a bonding night in Cardiff, the Quade Cooper clone generated more laughs than most.

In the manner of such fun, his persona was magnified. His doppelganger arrived with a mobile phone taped to each ear, a V-necked T-shirt showing some skin, an arm sleeve with a mock tattoo, jeans so tight they would squeeze Miranda Kerr and a beanie with serious attitude.

Cooper can now laugh at his old self-centred self. Reds coach Richard Graham can share the gag with him because he was in on it.

True story. It was then-Wallabies assistant coach Graham who dressed as Cooper when picking a random name out of a hat.

Cooper polarises rugby fans, critics, selectors and coaches. It is part of his mystique.

News_Image_File: Quade Cooper and Reds coach Richard Graham on the training paddock.

Those who have one stubborn stance on Cooper’s ability on or off the field miss the point that he has been evolving in front of our eyes.

He has literally grown up a Red from his 2005 signing as a 17-year-old, mullet-wearing schoolboy at Churchie who lived for miracle-ball plays.

He is not the cocksure kid of 2007, the seemingly bullet-proof title winner of early 2011, the rugby comet who crashed and burned at the 2011 World Cup or the “toxic Wallabies’’ critic of 2012 when many wondered if his career would ever soar again.

A vastly more mature Cooper will cherish his 100-game Reds milestone against the Blues in Auckland on Friday night because of those character-shaping highs and lows plus many more besides.

News_Image_File: Cooper has done his growing up, and made mistakes, in the spotlight of playing for the Reds.

“The biggest thing you learn along the way is getting outside the bubble of just worrying about yourself. I'm not stepping out on Friday night with myself on my mind but making it a memorable night with 22 other blokes,’’ Cooper said of a must-win game.

He has dealt with his wretched memories of Auckland’s House of Horrors — two big losses and a major knee injury at the last World Cup — so his return to Eden Park does not undermine the Reds’ last stand.

“The first place I looked when I made my return to Test rugby there (in 2012) was the spot I did my knee and then it was history,’’ Cooper said.

“There are a lot of memories at Eden Park I’d like to make right. The emotional attachment to 100 games for me is to play for one club.

“I came in at a time when Elton Flatley was an icon, a 100-game guy, and I wanted to be like that, loyal to one club.’’

News_Rich_Media: James Horwill discusses the Reds’ loss to the Hurricanes, criticising his side’s one-on-one tackling.

Cooper, 26, was talking with some depth when he said to grow from injuries and serious off-field dramas meant they were not regrets.

“I was a shy kid changing back into my school uniform after my first Reds trainings so this has been a life journey too,’’ Cooper said.

“I grew up a little quick. Years ago, when I had a few days off I’d sometimes be a bit lost but I grew to understand you don't always use down time to break out. I’ve got other areas to my life now.’’

One of Cooper's greatest traits is his self-belief. He has pulled off barely-believable passes and kicks and blown some too, but he will always keep backing himself.

Graham would definitely dress differently as a Cooper clone in 2013. Finding a T-shirt with “winner’’ on it would suit them both after Friday night.