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Wallabies star Quade Cooper reportedly prepared to join NRL if money is rightBy Peter Badel
August 15, 2010 Wallabies star Quade Cooper is prepared to walk away from rugby union if the NRL provides an extra $200,000 to his offer from Parramatta.
The revelation comes as Eels star Jarryd Hayne declared Cooper would be a hit in rugby league.
Hayne urged the NRL to strike a blow for the code by targeting the Wallabies playmaker.
Hayne's stance was backed by Fox Sports rugby league expert Greg Alexander, who called on the NRL to assist the Eels in their bid to poach Cooper just 12 months out from the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
While Cooper is adopting a diplomatic line to avert ructions with his ARU paymasters, privately the 22-year-old is seriously considering a code switch after meeting with Hayne and Eels powerbrokers Paul Osborne and Roy Spagnolo on Thursday night.
Cooper told the Eels trio he is interested in joining the club next season.
The Cooper camp are unhappy at suggestions they are using Parramatta to drive up their asking price after the Queensland utility turned down a $1 million offer from French rugby.
But the final impediment to his stunning code switch is money, with Cooper reluctant to quit rugby if Parramatta cannot trump the estimated $600,000 he stands to earn with the ARU next year.
With the Eels having around $500,000 to spend, their hopes of snaring Cooper hinge on whether the NRL is prepared to bankroll the biggest Wallaby defection since rugby turned professional in 1996.
Alexander said the NRL would be foolish to ignore the public relations opportunities in poaching Cooper after seeing big-name stars Craig Gower, Karmichael Hunt, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau lost to rugby and AFL in recent seasons.
"It is time for the NRL to do something. Let's get Quade Cooper," Alexander said.
"Why not do it? The other codes have done it to us, why shouldn't we do it?
"I know it wouldn't be a popular decision (for the NRL to subsidise Cooper's Eels deal), but if a guy like Quade Cooper is interested in league, we shouldn't be closing the door on him. The AFL stepped in to help get Israel Folau, the ARU has stepped up previously to top-up several league guys' contracts like Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor.
"If I was David Gallop (NRL boss), I'd be saying here's some money, pick which club you want to play with and we'll give you a top-up. I know NRL clubs will jump up and down, but Quade Cooper would be a massive coup for the game.
"He's got the goods. The NRL's help could drag him across the line."
After meeting with Cooper on Thursday night, Hayne urged the Reds playmaker to play alongside him at the Eels next season.
"He would adapt for sure, I'd love to play with him," said Hayne, who has struck up a friendship with Cooper via Twitter.
"Quade would be good for us, he's a great player."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27557932-5016959,00.html
August 15, 2010 Wallabies star Quade Cooper is prepared to walk away from rugby union if the NRL provides an extra $200,000 to his offer from Parramatta.
The revelation comes as Eels star Jarryd Hayne declared Cooper would be a hit in rugby league.
Hayne urged the NRL to strike a blow for the code by targeting the Wallabies playmaker.
Hayne's stance was backed by Fox Sports rugby league expert Greg Alexander, who called on the NRL to assist the Eels in their bid to poach Cooper just 12 months out from the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
While Cooper is adopting a diplomatic line to avert ructions with his ARU paymasters, privately the 22-year-old is seriously considering a code switch after meeting with Hayne and Eels powerbrokers Paul Osborne and Roy Spagnolo on Thursday night.
Cooper told the Eels trio he is interested in joining the club next season.
The Cooper camp are unhappy at suggestions they are using Parramatta to drive up their asking price after the Queensland utility turned down a $1 million offer from French rugby.
But the final impediment to his stunning code switch is money, with Cooper reluctant to quit rugby if Parramatta cannot trump the estimated $600,000 he stands to earn with the ARU next year.
With the Eels having around $500,000 to spend, their hopes of snaring Cooper hinge on whether the NRL is prepared to bankroll the biggest Wallaby defection since rugby turned professional in 1996.
Alexander said the NRL would be foolish to ignore the public relations opportunities in poaching Cooper after seeing big-name stars Craig Gower, Karmichael Hunt, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau lost to rugby and AFL in recent seasons.
"It is time for the NRL to do something. Let's get Quade Cooper," Alexander said.
"Why not do it? The other codes have done it to us, why shouldn't we do it?
"I know it wouldn't be a popular decision (for the NRL to subsidise Cooper's Eels deal), but if a guy like Quade Cooper is interested in league, we shouldn't be closing the door on him. The AFL stepped in to help get Israel Folau, the ARU has stepped up previously to top-up several league guys' contracts like Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor.
"If I was David Gallop (NRL boss), I'd be saying here's some money, pick which club you want to play with and we'll give you a top-up. I know NRL clubs will jump up and down, but Quade Cooper would be a massive coup for the game.
"He's got the goods. The NRL's help could drag him across the line."
After meeting with Cooper on Thursday night, Hayne urged the Reds playmaker to play alongside him at the Eels next season.
"He would adapt for sure, I'd love to play with him," said Hayne, who has struck up a friendship with Cooper via Twitter.
"Quade would be good for us, he's a great player."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27557932-5016959,00.html
