All's said and done, Cooper would be a huge coup for the NRL generally and if Gallop and all his cronies aren't doing EVERYTHING to get him to cross codes (no matter what team he ends up playing for) then that simply proves they're totally incompetent at their jobs and should be sacked. It's the Falaou thing but in reverse.
My reasons
We DON'T have his signature.
He is only a 50/50 chance of making a success in League.
We already have (or had) the personell but will not play them in the positions where they have the best chance to succeed.
I believe that mortimer should be placed on the bench, with robson as halfback and cooper as 5/8 (that's if we buy him).
Matt Keating should be replaced by Tom Humble as hooker for next season, and hopefully he gets more games under his belt, so he can gain more experience and become a better attacking option for us.
Quade will play 5/8 and Morts will play halfback. Quade will direct the team around from 5/8 and allow Morts to play his natural game from half. Having said that it will take all the pressure of Morts, which will allow his game to blossom under Quade and his confidence will grow and he will become a halfback. Remember when Fitler and Finch where at the roosters and Fitler directed the team from 5/8 which allowed Finch to do his own thing. They won a premiership together if my recolections is correct. Morts will grow into the halfback positin but he needs confidence and he is not going to get any confidence unless he gets a world class player to diret the team and allow him to play his naturual game and this my friends Quade will be perfect for it. No disrespect to Robson or KK but they are not world class halves and that is why Morts is struggling. Morts is a classy little player but he needs confidence to allow him to play his natural running game. Nothing fazes this guy Quade because he is a natural born leader just like your John's, Sterling's, Fitler's, Lockyer's and Thurston's etc etc. Man I have said it before but I really hope the eels sign Quade because I really rate this guy.
Replies
My backline would be (assuming Groth is not signed):
1 . Hayne
2. Burt
3. Tahu
4. Humble
5. Reddy
6. Cooper
7. Robson
Morts to hooker.
However, doubt DA would move Morts to 9, Humble to 4, and I doubt we will sign Cooper
Left Out.
My reasons
We DON'T have his signature.
He is only a 50/50 chance of making a success in League.
We already have (or had) the personell but will not play them in the positions where they have the best chance to succeed.
Matt Keating should be replaced by Tom Humble as hooker for next season, and hopefully he gets more games under his belt, so he can gain more experience and become a better attacking option for us.
Robson should go to halfback and mortimer at 5/8 with mitchell/keating/humble as rotatational hookers