Super 14
Cooper pens new deal with Reds
Scrum.com
June 13, 2010

Wallabies fly-half half Quade Cooper has committed his future to the Reds by agreeing a new two-year deal with the Brisbane-based Super Rugby franchise.

Although a similar contract extension with the Australian Rugby Union is still pending, Cooper said he wanted to clear the air on his Super Rugby intentions so he can focus on his immediate goal of playing well for the Wallabies.

"I'm really happy in Queensland: my family's here and I enjoy being with the guys and the style of footy we're playing under Ewen (Head Coach Ewen McKenzie)," said Cooper, the 2010 Super 14 Australian player of the year. "We have some great combinations developing and more of our guys are coming into the Wallaby squad, so the Reds are definitely going places.

"There has been a lot for me to weigh up and I'm grateful that the Reds and the Reds fans have given me space to do that - as they have supported me in so many ways this year. But being close to family is important to me and I really do want to be a part of where the Reds are heading, so I've decided to confirm my commitment to the Reds now so I can focus on my immediate goal, which is to play well for the Wallabies."

McKenzie welcomed Cooper's decision to commit to the Reds. "I know it's probably been a bit frustrating for our fans but these things can sometimes take time and in Quade's case he's a 22-year old player in demand and it was a bit more complicated. But he's made the right decision for the right reasons and we can now move ahead together to plan and prepare for next year's Super 15. This is Queensland's time in the sun and Quade knows it and wants to be part of it."

Cooper's first game for the Reds in 2011 will be his 50th Queensland cap since he made his state debut against Japan at the end of 2006 as an 18-year-old barely out of school. He was thrust into Super 14 rugby for the first time in February 2007 against the Crusaders and has since played 48 Super Rugby matches.

He made his Wallabies debut against Italy in 2008 and scored a try on debut. Following his dominant performances in Super Rugby in 2010, he has been the first choice Australia fly-half for the Test matches against Fiji and England. He earned his 13th Test cap against England in Perth last night on his way to the man-of-the-match honour.

As well as winning Player of the Year from the 2010 Super 14, Cooper also scored the try of the series, an ensemble effort he started and finished against the Crusaders in Round 2.

His 171 points for the Reds in 2010 was the most by any Reds player in a Super Rugby campaign, breaking the previous mark of 155 set by John Eales in 1996. That brought his career tally to 208, ranked fourth all-time on the Reds' Super Rugby points scoring list.

In 2010 Quade also broke the record for the most points scored by a Reds player in a Super Rugby match, with his 31 points from two tries, three conversions and five penalties against the Crusaders topping Elton Flatley's previous mark of 26.

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