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'He should be shaking Brad Thorn's hand' - How the All Blacks legend helped revive Quade Cooper's career

Quade Cooper looks on during the Rebels game in Durban. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Win or lose on Saturday night, Melbourne playmaker Quade Cooper should shake Reds Super Rugby coach Brad Thorn’s hand for giving him a real crack at this year’s Rugby World Cup, according to former Wallabies fullback Greg Martin.

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Cooper returns to Brisbane for his first Super Rugby match against the Reds since his acrimonious departure.

The 30-year-old joined the Rebels this year after being sidelined for an entire season by Thorn, who said the 118-game veteran no longer fitted with their culture.

Martin said Cooper would be welcomed back by the Reds faithful, who would applaud how he used the relegation to club rugby last year to make himself a better player and a better person.

And he had Thorn to thank for that.

“He made a real turnaround last year going back to club footy,” Martin told AAP.

“I’m of the belief he should be shaking Brad Thorn’s hand after the game and going ‘Thanks – you reminded me about humility and to be grateful’ because last year changed him as a person.

“Last year made him realise what the game’s about and it changed him and it’s also made him a better footballer.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvg4cQ0g0dH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While Cooper’s high risk, high reward plays don’t always come off, he’s been integral to the Rebels’ improved attack, while he’s also improved his once flaky defence.

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The television commentator and radio host said he would definitely pick him if the Wallabies’ World Cup squad was named today.

“I’ve named him in my Wallabies team – we can’t keep doing the same things otherwise we’re not going to win any games at the World Cup and we’re not going to beat New Zealand,” Martin said.

“We’ve got to introduce something new and I reckon he’s the form five-eighth.”

While Queensland skipper Samu Kerevi said on Friday there were no personal battles, Martin predicted Cooper would be targeted with Kerevi leading the charge.

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“Yes it’s a test for Quade but he’s more closely monitored than most other players and he doesn’t care about pressure.”

The Reds made a late change with Chris Feauai-Sautia replaced in the midfield by Duncan Paua’aia, with Jack Hardy coming on to the bench.

AAP

Watch – Michael Cheika on Scott Johnson, Jake White, and plans post-World Cup:

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Nickers 21 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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