McKenzie angry with ARU over Quade saga

Updated November 20, 2012 17:42:09

Queensland coaching director Ewen McKenzie has expressed his anger at the ARU for missing an "exciting" opportunity to tie Quade Cooper to rugby for three years.

Cooper is reportedly considering other options, including rugby league and boxing, after the Australian Rugby Union offered him only a reduced, incentive-based contract.

While McKenzie on Tuesday chuckled at suggestions the Khoder Nasser-managed player would seriously pursue a boxing career, the Reds' mentor was reluctant to speculate on Cooper's next move.

McKenzie expressed no frustration at Cooper for staying quiet over the speculation, but confirmed the holidaying fly half had not been in contact with the Reds over the past week.

The 2011 Super Rugby winning coach did take aim at the ARU for not backing up the QRU in signing Cooper for three years though.

"Quade had been doing year-to-year contracts so the fact that he put his hand up for three years was quite exciting," he said.

"At this point of time we haven't had the other - (ARU) - deal done. That is a major frustration."

McKenzie said he did not know who was responsible for the offer which reportedly would place him outside the country's top 30 players.

"The frustration has been that we (Queensland) came to terms with Quade some time ago, back in June now, and he declared his intentions to rugby and to us for three years," McKenzie said.

"He's given us his word on that topic. I think I spoke to him maybe seven or eight days ago and, as far as I was concerned, I've never felt that he was going to do anything other than play for the Reds.

"You've got to understand that we're not likely to speak to him because he's on leave for a start.

"Secondly, he's in negotiations with the ARU and we're not involved in those negotiations.

"So that's how I approach it at the moment, until someone informs me otherwise.

"The (rumour of him quitting) is out there. Whether it's true or not, I don't know. I can't confirm that.

"So we'll just deal with it and see what happens."

The ARU's offer to Cooper was tabled in the past fortnight - after he was slugged with a $40,000 fine for calling the Wallabies' set up a "toxic environment".

He had failed to sign off on a more-significant ARU deal that was first put to him in July after he re-signed with the Reds.

Although Cooper is close friends with another Nasser stablemate in Sonny Bill Williams, he has never spoken seriously about a desire to box before.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, qld, australia

First posted November 20, 2012 15:47:30

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Ban Quade for a year: Connolly

Updated October 19, 2012 13:50:45

Former Test coach John Connolly has called for the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to ban disgruntled playmaker Quade Cooper for 12 months for his "unforgivable" criticism of the Wallabies.

On a day when his coaching successor Robbie Deans said he had started rebuilding bridges with Cooper, Connolly tipped the ARU to punish the star five-eighth in the next week over claims of a toxic environment in the Wallabies.

Cooper's future in the code is on thin ice following a series of attacks on the code and the Wallabies' boring style of play, and his reluctance to wear the gold jersey until things changed.

Connolly, who took Australia to the 2007 World Cup and previously coached Queensland through their successful 1990s era, said the attacks simply could not be tolerated.

"It's unforgivable what Cooper did," Connolly said.

"You can't imagine one of the All Blacks criticising (coach Steve) Hansen and the game.

"It's just ridiculous what's happened and I hope (the ARU) do make a strong statement. He's said he doesn't want to play for his country - well then that's fine.

"I don't think you treat the Wallabies coach or the country or the jersey or speak about the game the way he did without some severe ramifications - maybe a 12-month suspension from the game."

High-level talks between the ARU and Queensland Rugby Union over Cooper's issues are expected to be held this weekend and the matter is certain to be discussed at next week's ARU board meeting.

While sidelined by a knee injury, Cooper is determined to play on for the Queensland Reds - who boast an 87 per cent success rate in the past three seasons with him at number 10 - but he first needs to sign an ARU contract.

Deans on Friday said he had spoken to the 24-year-old this week and would talk to him again in the days following Saturday night's Bledisloe clash at Lang Park.

Asked if he was confident there would be a resolution, Deans nodded.

Cooper's absence from the national team - on top of injuries to fellow playmakers James O'Connor and Berrick Barnes and half-back Will Genia - prompted reports Australia were considering calling Matt Giteau and Luke Burgess into their European tour squad.

The former Wallabies halves partners both play in France which precludes them from selection under the long-held ARU policy of only picking Australian-based players.

Deans did not dismiss the surprise option but admitted it would be "a big precedent" that would not be taken lightly by the ARU board.

"But more importantly, we've got a couple of good blokes here," said the coach, who praised back-up halves Nick Phipps and Brett Sheehan and has been impressed by the rise of new fly half Kurtley Beale and Mike Harris.

Deans also played down concerns over Genia's statement that he was on the open market after ARU negotiations had dragged on six months since he re-signed with Queensland.

"That's part of the negotiation process these days," he said. "It's pretty routine."

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia

First posted October 19, 2012 13:49:42

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ARU left confused by quarrelling Quade

Updated September 28, 2012 16:32:31

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief John O'Neill is "utterly confused" at much of the criticism levelled by Quade Cooper at his organisation and says it is up to the fly half if he plays for the Wallabies again.

Cooper, currently sidelined by injury, said in a television interview on Thursday he would not play for Australia unless changes were made to the "toxic" environment surrounding the team, which he felt was "destroying" him.

"Most disturbingly, he was firm about not playing for the Wallabies unless things change," O'Neill said in a statement released on Friday.

"If that is how he feels, then that is his choice. The reality is a decision on whether or not he stays in Australian rugby has to this point rested with him since he received an ARU offer in early July."

The 24-year-old's contract with the ARU expires at the end of the year and he has not signed a new deal despite agreeing to stay an extra three years in Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds.

In the television interview, Cooper slammed the defensive tactics of coach Robbie Deans, who was installed by O'Neill, and said his dissatisfaction with the environment at the Wallabies had come to a head after the win over Argentina two weeks ago.

"Much of what was said ... has left us utterly confused," O'Neill added.

"Quade wants more of a say in the game plan, he wants to play his style of game. He certainly made that clear. Yet he also said he could adapt if required.

"He talks of an unhappy environment without elaborating. He uses the word 'toxic' - an extremely strong descriptor."

Another of Cooper's complaints was that the Wallabies did not have a dedicated training facility, a criticism dismissed out of hand by O'Neill.

"We've never had these concerns raised previously," he said.

"The fact is the Wallabies are a national team. They train, stay and play in cities all around the country and overseas.

"The Australian cricket team and the Socceroos, same thing. Suggesting the Wallabies are under resourced has equally come out of the blue."

Cooper also reiterated that he wanted to play alongside Sonny Bill Williams, the All Black who has been linked with NRL side the Sydney Roosters, further fuelling rumours that he might be preparing to quit rugby union.

Cooper said he intended to honour his three-year contract with the Reds, but said whether the deal was ratified by the ARU was out of his hands.

At his best a mercurial talent whose unpredictability can unlock the game's increasingly tight defences, Cooper helped Australia to a first Tri-Nations title in a decade last year.

The New Zealand-born playmaker had less success at last year's World Cup in New Zealand, where he was vilified as the host country's "public enemy number one" and ended the tournament with a serious knee injury.

A further problem with the joint ruled him out of Saturday's match against South Africa in Pretoria and the last Wallabies game of the Rugby Championship against the Pumas in Argentina.

Reuters

Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia

First posted September 28, 2012 14:40:56

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Interview: Quade Cooper

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Interview: Quade Cooper

Published:Sunday, October 9, 2011 7:37 AEDTExpires:Saturday, January 7, 2012 7:37 AEDT

Wallabies fly half Quade Cooper told ABC Sport's Mark Douglass that he has not played in many tougher games than Australia's World Cup quarter-final win over South Africa.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, rugby-world-cup, australia

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Interview: Quade Cooper

Published:Sunday, May 29, 2011 6:00 AESTExpires:Saturday, August 27, 2011 6:00 AEST

Queensland fly half Quade Cooper told Grandstand's Luke Pentony that hearing the capacity crowd at Lang Park roar as he earned the game-winning penalty against the Crusaders was amazing.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia

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Interview: Quade Cooper

Published:Thursday, May 19, 2011 1:25 AESTExpires:Wednesday, August 17, 2011 1:25 AEST

Queensland and Australia fly half Quade Cooper told Grandstand's Alister Nicholson that his decision to sign a new one-year deal with the ARU and Reds was about continuing to test himself in the rugby arena and keeping himself on his toes.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia

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