Quade Cooper is one of the most exciting rugby players in the world; he oozes confidence with everything he does, and has the skills to support that confidence. Currently plying his trade with the Queensland Reds, young Cooper is one of the hottest properties in rugby today.
Born in Auckland then living in Tokora, New Zealand, he moved to Brisbane Australia at a young age. He went on to represent Australia Schoolboys gaining 9 caps and Australia under 19s. He made his debut for the Reds in 2007 at the age of 18 and for the Australian National team that same year. He went on to score a try in his first game for the Wallabies against Italy as a substitute.
As a result of his fantastic performances in the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 season, Quade was named as the Australian Player of the Series after receiving 6 man-of-the-match awards in 13 games.
Now aged only 23 and with no more than a handful of Wallaby caps to his name, people are already talking of the possibility of him being the best player in the world in years to come. That is if he sticks with Rugby Union.
Quade is wanted by a number of Rugby League Clubs in the NRL. However many think that he will struggle to reach the very top level of rugby league (RL). He, as with many other out-halves, does not possess the best defensive skills imaginable. One can often spot him sweeping behind the line of defence in open play like a scrum half would, leading us to believe he is not confident in his own defensive ability.
Compare this to players in the same position, for example Dan Carter, or Jonny Wilkinson For this reason alone you could say he is not suited to the 'hard running' and 'heavy hitting' style of RL. (Not to say that Union isn't hard running and heavy hitting, but you know what I mean.) He is currently on a one year deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), which could possibly indicate a switch to RL after the World Cup.
In the 2011 season, he has been brilliant in leading the Reds to victory no fewer than 13 times, losing only 3. Thus winning the Australian Conference as well as finishing top of the Super 15 over all! His partnership with scrum-half Will Genia, who is arguably the best no. 9 in the world today, has helped him a lot and has been simply brilliant to watch.
Quade has been susceptible of trying to do a little too much on the field of play as not everything he tries works, and when it doesn't work, he looks like a bit of an idiot. But when he does pull it off, it is simply spectacular. Take for example the cross field kick against the Cheetahs during week 6; he decided to kick to his winger, while both of them where behind the Reds try line! How many players do you know would try that?
With his displays this season there is no doubt that he will make the Wallaby squad for the World Cup in New Zealand in September, and he will inevitably be their first choice fly-half. Having Will Genia to supply him with good ball, and with James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale outside him, the Aussie backline will be a force to be reckoned with, as these 4 talented
and exciting young players will surely cause havoc when in attack.
In the past Quade was involved in controversy regarding a burglary after a successful breakthrough Wallaby tour. He was in the end charged with one count of burglary in December 2009. Earlier that year he was fined $10,000 by the ARU for breaking the window of a taxi outside a Brisbane night club. Fortunately he has had no public incidents since.
Looking to the future one can only hope that Quade signs another contract with the ARU, remains with the Queensland Reds, and Wallabies, continuing to improve as an extraordinary rugby union player.
