Melbourne Rebels join the fight for Quade Cooper

Melbourne Rebels have joined the hunt for Quade Cooper, hoping to steal him from under the noses of the Reds.

Quade Cooper looks like coming back into Super Rugby next season.

The Melbourne Rebels have joined the hunt for Quade Cooper, hoping to steal him from under the noses of the Queensland Reds.

It is understood that the Rebels are hoping to tap into Cooper’s friendship with Morgan Turinui, recently appointed to an assistant coaching role with the side, to attract him to Melbourne.

Melbourne owner Andrew Cox refused to comment on the approach but Cooper’s manager is believed to be playing the two Super Rugby clubs off against each other.

The Reds, who only recently became aware of Melbourne’s interest, are hoping Cooper will return to take over the playmaking role of what, increasingly, is shaping as a powerful side next season. The mercurial Wallabies five-eighth fell from favour under previous coach Richard Graham but attitudes at Ballymore have changed dramatically since Matt O’Connor and Nick Stiles became co-coaches.

Queensland will lose Test tighthead Greg Holmes and openside flanker Liam Gill at the end of this season but have compensated by recruiting Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and backrower George Smith, while other star recruits Kane Douglas and Caleb Timu have yet to see any action since joining the club.

Melbourne, who already have an honest, serviceable pack, are endeavouring to develop some real strike power in the backline.

They have already brought in Melbourne Storm tryscorer Marike Koroibete to join Australian squad winger Sefa Naivalu on the wings and Cooper would find ways of opening up options of bringing them more into the game.