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Queensland pieces together a deal to keep its rising star Quade Cooper
- Bret Harris
- From: The Australian
- April 21, 2010 12:00AM
WALLABIES' playmaker Quade Cooper is expected to remain with Queensland next year, but his decision to stay could cost the Reds the services of rugby league convert Mark Gasnier.
The Western Force has made Cooper a tempting offer to move to Perth, where he could attract a lucrative third-party sponsorship.
But it is understood Cooper's management has secured a third-party sponsorship for him in Queensland, which can match what is available in Perth.
Mining magnate Kevin Maloney is supporting the Reds financially, although he would not confirm whether he would back Cooper.
"I'm up there (Brisbane) later this week. I'll be talking through a number of things with them," Maloney said.
Given Cooper's blossoming combination with Wallabies halfback Will Genia and the Reds' renaissance under coach Ewen McKenzie, there are good reasons for him to stay in Brisbane, notwithstanding his desire to play with close friends James O'Connor and David Pocock at the Force.
If he can command the same -- if not greater -- financial reward, there would be less incentive for him to go.
While the Reds can come to terms with Cooper, they cannot re-sign him until after he faces court on a burglary charge in July, after which the ARU will re-negotiate a top-up.
But it is uncertain whether there is sufficient third-party sponsorship money in Queensland for both Cooper and Gasnier, who seems likely to join the Melbourne Rebels if he decides to return to Australia from France.
Gasnier has been negotiating with the ARU, but Stade Francais coach-elect Michael Cheika is trying to convince him to stay.
He is expected to make a decision in the next 10 days.
The Reds are also expected to sign former Wallabies tighthead prop Guy Shepherdson as a replacement for Laurie Weeks, who will join the Rebels next season.
Shepherdson played 18 Tests in 2006 and 2007 and was the Wallabies' first-choice tighthead at the World Cup in France, but is now playing behind Ben Alexander and Salesi Ma'afu at the Brumbies.
A move to Queensland could rejuvenate Shepherdson's career and provide the Reds with a specialist tighthead.
The Reds are also talking to Brumbies back-five forward Sitaleki Timani.
A hard-running forward, Timani has played 11 games for the Brumbies since 2008, but he has struggled to make the 22-man squad this year.
Queensland yesterday announced the signing of four Australian sevens players -- flanker Liam Gill, blindside flanker Ed Quirk, outside back Dominic Shipperley and winger Kimani Sitauti -- who will graduate from its academy to the senior squad next year.
NSW Waratahs second-rower Chris Thomson is expected to sign with a French club.
Meanwhile, Julian Huxley's hopes of capping his remarkable comeback with a return to the Wallabies have been dented after the ARU decided against topping up his Super 14 contract.
Huxley, a member of the Wallabies' 2007 World Cup squad, is playing for the Brumbies this season after a two-year absence following surgery to remove a brain tumour.
If Huxley cannot secure a top-up, he may look to Europe or
Japan.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225856143002