Wallabies star Quade Cooper is prepared to walk away from rugby union if the NRL provides an extra $200,000 to his offer from Parramatta.
The revelation comes as Eels star Jarryd Hayne declared Cooper would be a hit in rugby league.
Hayne urged the NRL to strike a blow for the code by targeting the Wallabies playmaker.
Hayne's stance was backed by Fox Sports rugby league expert Greg Alexander, who called on the NRL to assist the Eels in their bid to poach Cooper just 12 months out from the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
While Cooper is adopting a diplomatic line to avert ructions with his ARU paymasters, privately the 22-year-old is seriously considering a code switch after meeting with Hayne and Eels powerbrokers Paul Osborne and Roy Spagnolo on Thursday night. "He would adapt for sure, I'd love to play with him," said Hayne, who has struck up a friendship with Cooper via Twitter.
"Quade would be good for us, he's a great player."
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