HERE'S a sobering story for blinkered rugby union types who reckon Quade Cooper's talks with Parramatta are a mere stunt to inflate his earnings. Over dinner with Eels officials at St Pauls Tavern in Brisbane on Thursday night, Cooper revealed he was so passionate about league that he played the 13-man code under a different name as a teenager.
A junior with top Brisbane rugby school Anglican Church Grammar, Cooper was not permitted to play the rival code on weekends and last week told Parramatta how he daringly assumed an alter ego to flout the rules.
"When we heard that story, it really convinced us how much Quade loved rugby league and how serious he is about switching codes," an Eels insider said.
The Eels convened for a timely board meeting last night, where Cooper's $1.5 million, three-year offer was discussed.
It's expected the 22-year-old will have another meeting with Parramatta - and possibly tour the Eels base - while in Sydney for this week's Wallabies camp.