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By Bret Harris The Australian February 28, 2012 7:52AM
Off contract ... The Force will investigate the possibility of bringing Cooper to Perth in 2013. Source: News Limited
Western Force are expected to make a bid for Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper to solve their problem at No 10 next year.
The Force lost its starting five-eighth, New Zealander Willie Ripia, when he resigned last December in disgrace after it was alleged he had been stealing from teammates.
Halfback James Stannard has stepped into the chief playmaking role, while the Force searches for a replacement for Ripia.
But if the Force could lure Cooper across the Nullabor, he would have the capacity to completely transform the team.
The Force tried to recruit Cooper last year, but he chose to stay with Queensland Reds for another season.
Cooper, however, is a close friend of Force captain David Pocock, who would love to have his old high school First XV teammate playing alongside him in Perth.
Asked whether the Force would be interested in Cooper, coach Richard Graham said: "Any time a world class No 10 is available, you have to look seriously at it."
Cooper will be out of contract at the end of the year and his options would be to stay with the Reds, go to the Force, switch to rugby league or play in Europe.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, who has taken over the contract negotiations at the franchise, was quietly confident Cooper would stay in Brisbane.
"I'm confident Quade is enjoying his time here and enjoying his footy," McKenzie said. "There are a lot of reasons to think he wouldn't want to change that."
A player with Cooper's sublime ball skills would make a big difference to a team like the Force, which has struggled to score tries.
The Force dominated possession in its 19-17 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday but was shaded two tries to one.
"Our forwards played really well," Graham said. "We need our backs to share the workload.
"A couple of guys who had limited opportunities, Nick Cummins and Napolioni Nalaga, did really well (on the wings). I'd like to see them involved more in open play.
"It's a mindset. On the back of our forwards' work, we want our backs to challenge defences."
Meanwhile, Melbourne Rebels have ruled out making a bid for Cooper as a replacement for English five-eighth Danny Cipriani, who is expected to join Sale Sharks at the end of the season.
Rebels chief executive Steve Boland admitted it would be tantalising to have the "Three Amigos" - Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor and Cooper in the same team - but they could not afford him.
Boland hinted that the Rebels could be interested in Brumbies inside back, Christian Lealiifano, who grew up in Melbourne.
"Christian is an excellent player," Boland said. "In general, one thing we would like to do is get players who started in Melbourne back to Melbourne.We will look at any player with Melbourne roots."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226283505894