Front Row
T
HEY SAY a change is as
good as a rest. However,
making a change you
had not planned can be
disorientating, in some
cases upsetting, in others devastating.
Last season, Quade Cooper found out
that he would be surplus to requirements
at Queensland Reds, at the behest of
coach Brad Thorn, despite still being
under contract. The mercurial fly-half
was being paid not to play rugby for
them and instead dropped down to the
club game, playing for Souths in the
Queensland Premier Rugby competition.
“To be honest, at the start it was quite
difficult,” Cooper tells Rugby World of
leaving the Reds for the club game.
“It was out of my hands and one of
those things that was forced upon me.
“At the start it was a challenge. It was
a step back in some ways but also a
step up in pressure. Going back to club
football, every game I was expected to
be the best player on the field and if I
wasn’t – for my own standards, having
played Test matches and Super Rugby- it was like a failing for myself.”
It was a big knock. Did he ever wonder
‘why bother if no one wants me’?
“That definitely came into my mind at
a certain point. But that was probably
the way they (those who released him)
wanted me to feel,” Cooper replies.
“I’d been at the Reds, suffered some
difficult seasons, so I’m very fortunate
and happy to have come out on the
right end of things. Things turned on
their head and my situation was a little
bit tough there for a bit, but it’s like
anything else: if you approach it in a
positive manner and you work hard,
things tend to work out for the better.”
Now at Melbourne Rebels and united
with long-time half-back partner WillLightness of touch
Kicking through
against the RedsWHAT IT’S LIKE TO...
STAGE A COMEBACK
Quade Cooper talks about returning to Super Rugby
with the Melbourne Rebels after a year in the club game
Words Alan Dymock// Pictures Getty ImagesBEST PLAYERS^100
QUADE
COOPER
P45