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Reds desperate for deal to keep Cooper
- Wayne Smith
- From: The Australian
- April 12, 2010 12:00AM
QUADE Cooper is never happier than when playing at his best.
Which makes Reds coach Ewen McKenzie cautiously optimistic Queensland will retain the best player in Super 14.
As he has done in every Super rugby match this season, Cooper dominated in the Reds' 41-26 victory over the Lions early yesterday (AEST) in Johannesburg.
But as ruthless as he has been in ripping opposing defences to shreds, the 22-year-old is also having the time of his life on the field and McKenzie is hoping that will make it easier for the Reds to fight off the Force and overseas bidders for his services.
"We don't want to lose him," said McKenzie. "It's a three-way deal (Cooper, the ARU and the Reds/Force) and we only have control over our third of it. But rest assured that side of it is a priority.
"I think he's enjoying himself and he still has ambitions in the game. But he has a decision to make. The timing is complicated by his circumstances (the burglary charges he is scheduled to face in July) which are out of our control."
It sounds counter-intuitive but it almost seems the more opposing sides analyse Cooper, the easier it becomes for him to bamboozle them.
The Lions, for instance, clearly had taken note of Cooper's tendency to stand wide as first receiver and then to throw an inside pass to his left -- normally Digby Ioane -- coming through at speed.
Yet when a Lions player sprinted out of the line in the hope of intercepting that pass yesterday, Cooper merely dummied inside, raced through the hole where the defender had been and put Peter Hynes away for another try. It's self-evident that Cooper's purple form has lifted the confidence of every player around him but, as a result, they also are starting to make him look even better.
A mere 12 months ago Anthony Faingaa would not have dreamed of throwing the backhand pass that sent Cooper over for the second of the Reds' six tries at Ellis Park, but such is his current level of self-belief that even Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes dare not rule him out as a rival for the Wallabies number 12 jersey.
It is not just Faingaa who is riding Cooper's coattails into Wallabies contention. Winger Rod Davies, who notched a further two tries against the Lions, clearly is profiting from his growing understanding of Cooper's game, while McKenzie is eagerly awaiting what more NRL convert Will Chambers might contribute after he builds on his two-game combination with Cooper.
"There has been a fair bit of renovation in the Wallabies over the past 18 months and it's clear (Australia coach) Robbie Deans is a guy who responds to skill and attitude," said McKenzie.
"In that context, it would be nice to think that the Reds are pushing a few guys into the frame for Wallabies selection."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225852474286
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