Confident: Ewen McKenzie
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Reds boss Ewen McKenzie expects Quade Cooper to play Super Rugby with the Reds in 2013, despite not hearing from him in the past few days.
Rumours circulated on Monday that Cooper had quit Australian Rugby after a fallout with the ARU, prompting speculation that the fly-half would either move abroad, switch codes to rugby league or take up a career in boxing.
"I've got nothing. I haven't spoken to him, we haven't spoken to him as a union so I can't really tell you anything," said McKenzie.
"I'm not going to speculate whether it's true or not. The information's out there, whether it's true or not I don't know ... so we'll just see what happens.
"I haven't heard from Quade so if I do that might give me some comfort but he knows I don't have any influence over the ARU (negotiations) so that's probably one of the reasons why he hasn't rung me about it.
"Queensland's done all it can do in terms of securing him for the long haul for Australian rugby, but it's out of our hands."
Despite the lack of contact, McKenzie remained confident that Cooper would honour the three-year contract extension he signed with the club back in June.
"He's given us his word ... and I spoke to him seven or eight days ago and as far as I was concerned I never felt that he was going to do anything other than play for the Reds, so that's how I'll approach it at the moment until somebody formally tells me otherwise," added McKenzie.
"We've made plans for next year around (Quade) and we're going to continue as if those plans are unchanged.
"If it changes that will be disappointing but at this point in time I've got nothing other than some stories that were put out last night and whether they're true or not we'll find out."
Comments
firepower says...
@georgesmith TP Nau and S. Moore are the 2 best hookers in Australia right now. stop being an idiot.
Posted 19:32 20th November 2012
passtheball says...
Aus is losing "prima donnas" and gaining full on team players like Cummins and Hooper. More like the Crusaders, I guess. Sharpey is proving a top-line skipper so he may not retire anytime soon.
Posted 14:24 20th November 2012
chisel68 says...
Georgesmith
Moore and Sharpe to go and keep two players who are as much the cause of the toxic environment as Deans? Gits was great. Was. QC was supposed to be his replacement and look how he repaid that faith. Now QC has an opportunity to repay some of that faith by being paid for games he plays - ala Sharpe. My guess is he won't cos he doesn't have the moral fabric to do so. It's all about him. Give me a team full players like-minded like Sharpenthan even ONE Cooper.
Posted 11:14 20th November 2012
flatline says...
georgesmith you're a clown. how many players have complained about R Deans? one - and he cant see anything past his own ego. M Giteau wanted to run the show - much the way gregan and larkham did - and Deans was having none of it so Gits could'nt back down. R Deans wants players who give everything for the team - and has achieved a lot despite much bullshit from ARU officials and the worst injury run in any international team. his legacy will be the creation of a some depth in Australian rugby. the recent result against england with a makeshift team speaks volumes about how his message is getting through to the players
Posted 11:04 20th November 2012
georgesmith says...
This shouldn't be happening. Q. Cooper should play for Reds only and not the Wallabies. Who wants to play under clown coach R. Deans, who is a big, big flop. Australia is losing quality players like Q. Cooper and M.Giteau because of this over-rated coach. Time to start fresh. E. McKenzie to be new coach with his own selection of coaching staff. Some ARU board members need to go as out as well because they're proving too myopic regarding the shortfalls of R. Deans and the damages he is causing. Briefcase players like N.Sharpe, D. Dennis, S.Kepu, S. Moore and T.P Nau also need to be shown the door.
Posted 09:09 20th November 2012