Quade Cooper will join the Parramatta Eels after Rugby World Cup

From: The Sunday Telegraph

A PHONE call to Quade Cooper on Friday has left Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne convinced the Wallabies star will soon be wearing the blue and gold Eels jumper.
Just 24 hours after Cooper went public with his decision to stick with the Wallabies until after next year's World Cup, Osborne said it was only a matter of time before the 22-year-old switched codes.

"He rang me before he went with the decision and I just said stay for a year and play in the World Cup," Osborne said.

"We've got a really good relationship. We hit it off pretty well, we just clicked. He'll play for Parramatta one day."

Desperate to resolve their halves crisis, Parramatta pulled out all stops to entice the young Queenslander to wearing the Eels' No. 6 jumper next season.

It was at a dinner in Brisbane last month that Osborne, Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo and star fullback Jarryd Hayne tried to woo Cooper.

It showed him the Eels' offer was serious.

Osborne even joked that he was willing to name the Parramatta Stadium pool after Olympic champion Stephanie Rice, who is rumoured to be the Wallabies star's girlfriend.

But without Cooper on their books, for next season at least, the Eels have made no secret of their intentions to lure a marquee halfback to the club.

Retired stars Brett Kimmorley and Trent Barrett and Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk have all been approached by senior Parramatta officials to no avail.

Former Manly premiership-winning halfback Matt Orford is also on the Eels' radar but the Raiders are also interested in the experienced No. 7.

However, it's likely they will also fall short of signing the 32-year-old, with Bradford, who Orford is currently signed with, unwilling to let him go.

It leaves the Eels in a precarious position following their failure to make the finals, which highlighted a serious problem in the halves.

Last year's grand finalists are also in the middle of a complete review of the club's coaching structure, which has raised serious questions about the future of Daniel Anderson, who is contracted to the club until the end of 2011.

Alongside club directors Geoff Gerrard and Glen Duncan, Osborne is leading an internal interview process of the club's entire football operations.

It's anticipated that the wide-ranging review could take up to a month to complete.

Big man needs to hang out with some proper CEO's to learn how real CEO's operate. This guy has a fuking mouth bigger then Lunar fuking Park. Some things you just can't speak to the freaking media about ozzy and negotiating with players is a dead set private matter full fuking stop. When you have a signature on the contract then you hold a media conferance. You don't speak to the freaking media every time a player is off contract and says yes he will hear you out. I seriously think this guy is nothing but an attention seeker. He would give Benji Marshall a run for his money in who loves himself more. Stop speaking to the fuking media Ozzy and just do you job that you are paid to do and we will all be happy. Maybe if you keep your mouth shut we might start signing some players with some credibillity about them.

I for am so over all this crap in the media. There isn't a freaking day that goes by where parra isn't in the news somehow. If it's not Ozzy then it's Roy or Pricey or someone in the mmanagement. Either shut the fuk up or find another job because I am sick to death of you clowns killing my beloved club because you clowns love seeing your name or faces either on tele or in the papers.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH........

"On a positive note thought Da Silva was pretty solid in this game just lot of bad errors around him from most of the team. iongi once again outstanding "

Replies

Jpav September 12, 2010 at 12:33am

wow paul osborne is very confident
JJM September 12, 2010 at 12:49am

Again, why is osbourne leaking to the media private conversations before parra has signed him.

I'm sick of his management style
Jpav September 12, 2010 at 12:54am

loves attention? has a deal with the daily telegraph? always in the headlines anyway
Adam1969 September 12, 2010 at 1:30am

Big man needs to hang out with some proper CEO's to learn how real CEO's operate. This guy has a fuking mouth bigger then Lunar fuking Park. Some things you just can't speak to the freaking media about ozzy and negotiating with players is a dead set private matter full fuking stop. When you have a signature on the contract then you hold a media conferance. You don't speak to the freaking media every time a player is off contract and says yes he will hear you out. I seriously think this guy is nothing but an attention seeker. He would give Benji Marshall a run for his money in who loves himself more. Stop speaking to the fuking media Ozzy and just do you job that you are paid to do and we will all be happy. Maybe if you keep your mouth shut we might start signing some players with some credibillity about them.

I for am so over all this crap in the media. There isn't a freaking day that goes by where parra isn't in the news somehow. If it's not Ozzy then it's Roy or Pricey or someone in the mmanagement. Either shut the fuk up or find another job because I am sick to death of you clowns killing my beloved club because you clowns love seeing your name or faces either on tele or in the papers.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH........
anthony September 12, 2010 at 7:49am

i totally agree keep it in house until he puts pen to paper
Ricky September 12, 2010 at 8:10am

I agree entirely with your post Adam, but I guess in some ways, perhaps Ozzie thinks that it's something everyone needs to know, hence why he or other board members reveal it all in the media.
Barra Eel September 12, 2010 at 1:58pm

yeh i dunno why osbourne would come out and say this unless its completely a done deal. look mighty bad if he doesnt join in 2012 but i think he will.
And hell if he pulls off the deal then he can say what ever he want whenever.
hope he does come from union.

just please no orford. Develop Murray Mitchell Morts and Humble as much as we can and throw quade in for 2012.
Bourbon Man September 12, 2010 at 3:03pm

Totally agree! If it once was the case that QC might join us in 2012 that may be in jeopardy now since this big-mouthed buffoon has yet again breached the confidence of any private discussions he might have had with the player.

If true, how would QC feel facing his Wallaby and Reds team-mates considering he now appears as a 'gun-for-hire' and a footballing mercenary without any loyalty??
Haryd Jayne September 12, 2010 at 4:48pm

See him last night against the all blacks.. haha do we really need this bloke, he had a shocking game against the all blacks..
ŦōmMýþØΨ-Parra Till I Die! September 12, 2010 at 5:12pm

Too true Bourbs.

Osbourne likes to be the man in the limelight, no matter what the confidentiality entails! If his comments are true Quade is going to look and feel like a right goose when the Wallabies and Reds team-mates come across this info.