Talks leave ARU confident Cooper will stay
Greg Growden CHIEF RUGBY CORRESPONDENT
August 19, 2010
THE Australian Rugby Union has intensified its campaign to retain Quade Cooper, with chief executive John O'Neill meeting the Test pivot yesterday to discuss a lucrative two- to three-year deal.
O'Neill and ARU contract negotiator Peter Friend met Cooper and his manager, Richard Colreavy, for an hour at the ARU offices in St Leonards. At the meeting, the ARU presented its case to Cooper as to why it wants him to ignore an offer from NRL club Parramatta, worth $850,000 a season, and instead become a focal point of the Wallabies' World Cup campaign next year.
The ARU is considering increasing its base offer - which before Test match payments is about $360,000 a season - following Cooper's request that he be offered a similar contract to Australian rugby's highest-paid player, Matt Giteau, whose annual salary is understood to be in the vicinity of $700,000 to $800,000.
There is still some way to go in the ARU's contract renegotiations with Cooper as it has not been finalised whether they will offer him a two- or three-year deal. Also, hopes that Cooper will re-sign with the ARU before the Wallabies leave for their South African tour tomorrow morning are fading fast.
But Wallabies and ARU officials remain confident Cooper won't be lost, with the player indicating to officials and teammates this week that he is eager to stay in the game.
At the start of training at Victoria Barracks yesterday, the five-eighth was involved in a lengthy discussion with coach Robbie Deans. Several senior Wallabies are also planning to meet Cooper this week in a bid to convince him to stay.
Wallabies management cleverly has Cooper rooming with Queensland midfield partner Will Genia, with the Test halfback certain to be pushing the ARU's cause.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday said that while the league would not make any exceptions to the sport's salary cap to allow Cooper to cross codes, ''If he is serious about coming over to Parramatta or any other club, we will do what we can to help out and make it a smooth transition for him.''
Gallop said he had not talked to Cooper but, ''If things progressed, I would be happy to have a chat with him''.
''We're not getting too excited about it until we see how far down the track it gets,'' Gallop said.
Whether Cooper shifts to the NRL is not Deans's only concern. There is also uncertainty over the make-up of the Wallabies' touring squad to South Africa, with several players struggling with leg complaints that could force them out of the two-week trip.
Utility back Cameron Shepherd is in doubt with a hamstring complaint, and winger Drew Mitchell has a similar problem. Back-rower Matt Hodgson underwent a scan for a groin strain late yesterday.
Asked if there was any good news on the injury front, Deans laughed and replied: ''Well, Quade Cooper is available.''
While the Wallabies can take 28 players away, they might end up leaving with less and then bring in reinforcements following the first of two Tests against the Springboks, in Pretoria on August 28. They then play South Africa in Bloemfontein on September 4.
And even though Deans has some reservations, at least winger Peter Hynes is convinced he can rejoin the Test line-up while in South Africa.
Hynes has been overlooked for this season's Test matches due to knee problems but has been involved in all aspects of the past two training sessions.
Deans wants to see more before Hynes becomes a definite Test candidate but the winger was more confident. ''The knee feels good. At this stage, it is going better than what I thought it would be. I also played a club game on Saturday, and pulled up pretty well,'' Hynes said.
