ARU may ask Quade Cooper and other stars to take pay cuts as financial squeeze continues

QUADE Cooper may have regained his status as Australia’s premier No.10 but the ARU is set to deny him a pay rise as the financial squeeze continues.

Quade Cooper of the Reds loses the ball over the try line in the tackle of Joe Tomane of the Brumbies during the Super Rugby match between the Queensland Reds and the Brumbies. Pic Darren England.

QUADE Cooper may have regained his status as Australia’s premier flyhalf but the ARU is set to deny him a pay rise as it responds to his contract negotiations with silence.

Cooper could be forced to re-sign the ARU deal he penned 18 months ago as the ARU manages its dwindling finances.

Cooper’s manager Khoder Nasser said the off-contract star wanted to stay in Australian rugby but a meeting with the governing body early this year had not been followed up.

Cooper is at his peak-earning capacity, with his superb Wallabies tour late last year earning back his standing as Australia’s best No.10.

When the ARU finally starts negotiating with players it is likely to ask several stars to either roll over their top-up deals on similar terms or take small rises in order to help the code.

Wallabies Test match payments have already been cut and the hardball approach to top-ups was partly the trigger for 2013 Wallabies skipper Ben Mowen to move to France.

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“(Cooper) is happy where he is and he’s made that clear. The rest is with the ARU,” Nasser said. “We had a meeting early in the year and it seemed comfortable.

“I guess now we will just have to wait to see the offer. It is a situation we just have to deal with.

“Quade’s committed himself (to Australian rugby) so we have to wait and see what is happening.’’

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie yesterday was adamant no player of national interest would have their pay cut but rises would be minimal and probably tied around incentives.

“Everyone offered a contract will grow their number,’’ McKenzie said. “No one will be going backwards. It’s a matter of how far forward and an ongoing debate will be how much is guaranteed and how much is incentivised in some cases.

“Negotiations are going on all the time. I’m not worried. You can only spend what you’ve got as an organisation so they’ll be resolved.’’

Cooper, who plays his 100th game for the Reds tomorrow night against the Blues in Auckland, is signed to Queensland until the end of next season but his ARU deal expires this year. Without an ARU deal he cannot play Super Rugby.

Cooper said he felt no unease over negotiations with the ARU, which were in Nasser’s hands.

“Khoder takes care of that,’’ he said. “I just know I’d like to be putting in the hard work to keep representing the Reds for years to come. That’s the focus right now.”

With the Super Rugby season past its halfway mark, there are still more than a dozen Wallabies coming off contract and awaiting an ARU response.

Final deals will depend upon the outcome of the impending broadcast rights negotiations for 2016 and beyond.