PARRAMATTA are still convinced they will sign Wallaby star Quade Cooper to the NRL in 2012 after revealing they encouraged him to first live his World Cup dream in rugby.
Froday's bombshell that Cooper had signed only a new one-year deal to stay in rugby is a win for next year's Rugby World Cup campaign, but a signal of how strong the lure of rugby league is within him.
"I'm convinced Quade will play league and that it will be with the blue and gold," Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne said.
"I told Quade I didn't want him coming to play with us (in 2011) and being disappointed at missing out on the World Cup.
"We've had some good chats and I said 'play the World Cup'. I don't know if it made his decision easier but with a great kid like this you're prepared to take the longer term view."
Osborne may well be trying to spin a good look out of Cooper spurning a $1.5 million deal over three years, but the fact is the NRL club baited a hook that nearly snared him.
The option of playing league remains.
Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne said the Eels would "have to wait 12 months".
ARU boss John O'Neill yesterday wasn't prepared to contemplate another round of negotiations next year but said he remained confident his 15-year record of not losing any player to league "we really wanted" would stand.
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No reason why he won't come, and again, signing that 1 year deal makes it that much more likely.
I think it was slippery who had info saying Cooper had actually already signed for us.
There is alot of information that we dont know about. I really am surprised he signed a one year deal if he wasnt thinking about league in 2012.
Let me start by saying that I understand that Quade Cooper is VERY talented.
But if I were rugby union I would have none of this. I think its completely inappropriate that Quade decides that he wants to play the World Cup. Then once he has ticked that box - he decides that its appropriate to change codes. Do players have no loyalty anymore?
I for one am sick of trying to court players.
We let go loyal players and then chase ones who seem more keen to tick achievement boxes than really want to play for our team.
I agree it's good to have loyal players and you dont want a full squad of mercernaries but if you want to challenge the most talented teams you gotta sign players and sometimes they are those type of players that are coming for money or achievements.
Every team in every sport handles things this way. Thats just the way it goes.
Quade Cooper seems a bit different to me. He's pissing on both codes.
He has effectively used the Eels to bump up his value by the ARU. He is going to play RU for one year and then say, bollocks to you - I'm trying League!
And what happens if he doesn't come? The Eels look like fools for attempting to court him!
He wants the best of both codes and at the moment, because he is so damn talented, is doing a mighty fine job in having his demands catered to.
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