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Cooper knocks back French riches
PHIL LUTTON
April 27, 2010 - 5:31AM
Quade Cooper's future is likely to be in Australia.
The rush for the services of in-demand flyhalf Quade Cooper is officially a two-horse race, with the Wallaby star knocking back a colossal offer from a leading French club to commit his immediate future to Australian rugby.
Cooper's decision to turn his back on one of Europe's glamour clubs and a lucrative financial windfall will put to rest arguments he is motivated only by money.
The question now is whether he will remain at the resurgent Queensland Reds next season or make the shift to the Western Force, which is assembling a big-money play for his services.
The ARU learned of Cooper's decision to forego the riches of Europe on Friday and can now compile a potential top-up offer to the 22-year-old.
No deal will be tabled by the ARU until Cooper's pending burglary charge is dealt with in a Gold Coast court on July 2, although he may make an announcement on his state preference prior to that date.
Cooper had played down a possible French link prior to the weekend but his reluctance to talk about the matter was motivated by a desire not to spook any possible deal.
With the matter off the table, Cooper is free to weigh up his options between the Reds and the Force.
So keen was the French side to secure Cooper they extended the deadline for his deliberations for a number of weeks after initially hoping he would make a call on the matter while the Reds were touring South Africa earlier this month.
The Reds and coach Ewen McKenzie are desperate to keep Cooper at Ballymore.
They have invested heavily in his talents and backed him during his rehabilitation after he was charged with theft late last year.
But his close friendship with Force star James O'Connor is a potential lure across the Nullarbor.
It is understood Cooper's management is compiling third-party options in both states before any decision will be made.
The Firepower debacle that engulfed the Western Force means any potential deals will get maximum scrutiny, while private backers are also beginning to emerge in Queensland as the fight for Cooper heats up.
Meanwhile, Brumbies five-eighth Matt Giteau says he isn't concerned his Test jumper could be under siege from Cooper.
Outside in-form Test halfback Will Genia, Cooper has been superb for the Reds, who need to win two of their final three matches to guarantee a first finals campaign in nine years.
"It's going to be a big challenge but like any Australian side, the 10 is always measured by how the team is performing so hopefully our side wins and that's all I care about," Giteau said.
"The Wallabies is the furthest thing from my mind, I'm just worrying about the Brumbies."
The Brumbies have panned referee Steve Walsh's performance and called for his axing from Saturday night's crucial Super 14 clash with the Reds in Canberra.
Still upset about Walsh's controversial handling of the 19-12 loss to NSW, Giteau felt it was pointless for the Brumbies to line up at Canberra Stadium if the Sydney-based New Zealander was officiating.
Brumbies coach Any Friend on Monday remained hopeful Walsh would be dropped from the pivotal match by SANZAR referees convenor Lyndon Bray following the weekly review of officials on Tuesday.
"We'll wait and see whether he's the referee," Friend said in Canberra.
"They have a review tomorrow and they have got a promotion and relegation system and hopefully you would like to see that in place and working.
"That's up to the selectors to give their view and we can only deal with what we see and I thought the first 30 minutes it wasn't a very even contest."
It's understood the ACT-based outfit completed a scathing report of the refereeing at ANZ Stadium last Saturday night where they were unhappy with numerous areas, especially a disallowed try to Adam Ashley-Cooper and countless scrum resets and penalties.
- with AAP
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/spor...0426-tn2t.html
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