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Remembering Quade Cooper’s Reds magic ahead of ‘State of Origin’ derby
Fly-half Quade Cooper was the face of Super Rugby for quite some time. During a glistening career with the Queensland Reds, Cooper rose to heights that stopped rugby fans in awe on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
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Whether you hate to love Quade Cooper or love to hate him, there’s no questioning the playmakers’ greatness. Cooper was something special during the prime of his career at Ballymore, Brisbane.
Cooper, now 35, played a leading role in the Reds’ journey to their first-ever Super Rugby title in 2011. With halfback Will Genia joining him in the halves, the Queenslanders were nigh on unstoppable at times.
The Reds only lost three matches in the regular season and went on to beat Dan Carter’s travelling Crusaders in a thrilling decider in front of 50,000+ at Suncorp Stadium.
But there’s one moment, one highlight that sums up the greatness of that 2011 team – okay, maybe two if you remember Digby Ioane’s iconic ‘turtle’ try celebration.
If Quade Cooper wasn’t taking shots at goal with iconic stance, or setting up teammates with sensational offloads, then the first five was bamboozling defenders with his rapid fast feet.
Playing against the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium, Cooper ran straight past Wallabies Ryan Cross before a clever left-foot step saw the No. 10 cross for a crucial five-pointer.
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But the best was yet to come. Cooper dotted the ball down and then proceeded to celebration with a routine that would score a perfect 10 for a gymnast at the Olympic Games.
What the flip, Quade?! 🎩
The @Reds_Rugby continue their rivalry against the Waratahs this Saturday 😤
📺 @StanSportAU
⏰ 7:05pm AEST pic.twitter.com/xckW15Ph8h— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) February 20, 2024
“Cooper showing it and going,” commentator Greg Clark said. “Cooper, Cooper dummying. Quade Cooper! Absolutely brilliant.”
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That try-scoring effort will be replayed time and time again for the years to come. If you’re a Queenslander, it’s the perfect way to set the stage for a battle with your fiercest rivals.
13 years on from that Super Rugby thriller, which the Reds won 19-15, the Queenslanders are set to host another epic clash against the NSW Waratahs.
As Reds co-captain Tate McDermott told reporters at the Super Rugby Pacific season launch in Auckland, “It’s our version of State of Origin.”
The oldest rivalry pretty much in Australian sport,” McDermott said. “A lot of people don’t know that but it’s big. There’s a lot in it, there’s a lot on the line.
“To have them in our home at Suncorp Stadium in a week and a half’s time, it’s brilliant.”
The Reds and Waratahs will go head-to-head in the final game of Round One with the match set to get underway at 7.05 pm (local time) on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
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