There is no news yet on Paddy Jackson making a playing return for Ulster and Christian Lealiifano’s departure date is unlikely to change.
Ulster are making some transfer waves of late – signing Marty Moore for next season and lining up Jordi Murphy – but there remains a gap at outhalf.
In one fell, swoop – due legal issues – Ulster lost the services of Jackson and Stuart Olding, who is also capable of playing 10. Lealiifano is versatile and talented so has been doing a fine job in the interim but Ulster could do with a specialist in the role and one who is reliable off the kicking tee.
Les Kiss and Jono Gibbes have plenty of good contacts in Australia an New Zealand so there is little doubt they are up to speed with the current status of one Quade Cooper.
At the weekend, Queensland Reds head coach Brad Thorn broke the news that Cooper and Wallabies scrum-half Nick Frisby would not be part of the club’s 2018 Super Rugby plans. Thorn told reporters:
“I’ve had honest conversations with Quade Cooper and Nick Frisby about where they currently sits in our plans for 2018. They are not training with the Reds at the moment and will be training with training their club instead.”
That leaves the 29-year-old, star of two World Cups and scorer of over 900 points for the Reds, training with Souths Rugby Club in Brisbane. To all intents and purposes, he is up for grabs.
https://youtu.be/HoJaLZkK0dI
In the days since Thorn made the announcement, it has been reported that the former New Zealand and Leinster lock had ‘run out of patience’ with Cooper. The Auckland-born outhalf is a guy that loves playing off-the-cuff and backing his instincts.
Intoxicating for many rugby fans but Thorn comes from union background forged in a strong worth ethic and team ethos. Reds won the Super Rugby title in 2011 and reached the 2012 and 2013 finals but have been in freefall since. Thorn is looking to get this team out of a hole and they need everyone pulling in the same direction. Cooper may have been harshly judged on past reputation but Thorn is not willing to take a chance on him heading in 2018.
There will be plenty of suitors for Cooper, and Australian Rugby League sides are already making noises about getting him involved in the NRL. Ulster are on the look-out for another short-term signing to see out the 2017/18 season and should consider a firm toss of their hat in the ring.
