Slackboy72
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http://www.theleader.com.au/news/lo...nett-stopped-cooper-from-leaving/1960325.aspx
There's too much love around the joint lately.
Coach Bennett stopped Cooper from leaving
BY BRAD FORREST
06 Oct, 2010 04:00 AM
FORMER international Matt Cooper revealed his best decision in life was to listen to Wayne Bennett and not to quit the Dragons.Cooper is one of five survivors, along with Mark Gasnier, captain Ben Hornby, Ben Creagh and Brett Morris (2006), who suffered the heartbreak of consecutive finals defeats in 2005 and 2006, when Dragons sides were choc-full of some of the game's best NRL players.
After the Dragons bombed out again in the 2008 qualifying final, Cooper had had enough, considering playing in England.
His centre partner Mark Gasnier had already left to play rugby union in France.
"Then I got a call from Wayne," said Cooper after Sunday's premiership victory.
"He told me he needed me; that things would get better if I stayed.
"It was the best decision I ever made; if it wasn't for Wayne I would probably be overseas now and not celebrating."
Cooper, a father and, at 31, one of the senior Dragons players, admitted it had been a "tough road for us five".
"There has been so much expected of our teams, especially since the joint venture," said the ex-Illawarra junior.
"We had to win to get the monkey off our backs, you know that chocking tag and all.
"We knew all year that if we played our game, we could win.
"Even a half-time when we were down we knew we could turn things around.
"I probably will have a cry later, when it sinks in that we've finally won it.
"This is as much a win for the [Illawarra] Steelers as it is for St George, because the old Steelers have supported the Dragons so much."
Cooper, who won back an Origin spot this year, said he still had "a few good years" left. "I've got a new lease of life."
There's too much love around the joint lately.