Quade Cooper shows off ‘ridiculous’ NFL-style pass during rugby game

Australian rugby star Quade Cooper has sent social media wild with another NFL-style trick pass, this time during an actual game.

If Quade Cooper ever considers a switching codes to the NFL, he has once again proven he definitely has the talent of a star quarterback.

The Australian rugby union star showed off his gridiron skills with an insane pass while playing for the Kintetsu Liners against the Hino Red Dolphins in Japan’s Rugby League One over the weekend.

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After receiving the ball following a breakdown in play, Cooper unleashed a one-handed overhead pass that travelled about 35 metres and hit winger Ryosuke Kataoka on the chest.

The pinpoint accuracy of the long-range cross-field rocket was just as impressive as the fact Cooper managed to ensure it wasn’t a forward pass.

Unfortunately the trick pass didn’t amount to much after Kataoka was swarmed by defenders and the ball was knocked on.

But Kintetsu won the game 67-22 and Cooper converted three of his side’s 11 tries as the Liners stayed within touching distance of the Mitsubishi Dynaboars, who lead the second division of Japan’s Rugby League One.

Quade Cooper launches a NFL pass during a rugby game.

He did well to avoid throwing a forward pass.

Clearly pleased with his effort, Cooper shared a video of the feat to social media and declared he had been swept up in Super Bowl fever.

“Super bowl got me all hyped up today..Go @RamsNFL,” he tweeted.

Super bowl got me all hyped up today.. 😂😅
Go @RamsNFL 🐏💙💛 pic.twitter.com/abkTkF4ZwF

— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) February 12, 2022

Australian rugby union and league players were blown away by Cooper’s one-handed pass and compared him to several NFL stars.

Former Wallaby Matt Giteau responded: “Quade Stafford..”, along with a fire and drool emoji, referring to Super Bowl-winning LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

“My shoulder would have dislocated,” Giteau added on Instagram, while Kurtley Beale offered three cry laughing emojis.

Melbourne Storm’s Jahrome Hughes commented: “Holy hecka! That you Aaron Rodgers”.

Wallaby Samu Kerevi said: “It’s getting ridiculous at this point”.

Quade Cooper is a freak at trick passes. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Cooper’s freak pass was hardly surprising given he spent much of the Covid lockdowns practising his swirling NFL-style passes.

The 33-year-old went viral in 2020 for a ridiculous acrobatic trick pass that sent social media into meltdown.

He stunned fans again when he shared a video of a pinpoint 30-40m behind-the-back pass that hit NRL star Tevita Pangai Jr on the chest.

But this was the first time he has executed such a trick pass during an actual rugby game.

Now the greatest quarterback of all time Tom Brady has retired, NFL teams could do far worse than Cooper as their next recruit.

Originally published as Quade Cooper shows off ‘ridiculous’ NFL-style pass during rugby game