Force on the hunt as Quade sticks to Reds
The Western Force's hunt for a quality playmaker has become just a bit more desperate with Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper re-signing with the Queensland Reds.
While the move was not totally unexpected, the Force were quietly hoping Cooper would come west after tabling an offer to the star playmaker two months ago.
Now, with one less option open to them, Force chief executive Vern Reid said the club had to make progress within the next month.
"We don't have any choice. We've got to find a 10 good enough to run the game at this level," Reid said.
The door has also been shut on the Stormers' Peter Grant, who has signed with the South African Super 14 finalists for next year.
Last year the Force made an unsuccessful bid for Grant, who has relatives in Perth.
They are still monitoring last season's marquee signing Andre Pretorius, who did not play a game after ripping his left hamstring.
The 30-year-old former Springbok hopes to make his comeback through the Currie Cup with the Sharks.
If he did return to Perth, it would only be a stop-gap measure for the Force, who must be hoping they can unearth a young talent for the longer term.
"Realistically we need two No.10s and we have four or five options that we are developing," Reid said.
Reid was coy about specific targets but revealed they had asked Australia's under-20 coach and ARU high performance coach David Nucifora to keep an eye on potential talent at the Junior World Championship being played in Argentina.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ticks-to-reds/
