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Video - Quade Cooper has last laugh in Thorn feud

Melbourne playmaker Quade Cooper has enjoyed a victorious return with a leading role in the Rebels’ dominant Super Rugby win over Queensland.

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In his first Super Rugby match against the Reds since his acrimonious departure, Cooper set up two tries as the Rebels secured a 32-13 win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

The win lifts Melbourne to the top of the Australian conference following the Waratahs shock loss to the Sunwolves on Friday.

Cooper made an instant impact against his old team by slotting a penalty after just two minutes.

Continue reading below…

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The Rebels dominated territory and possession in the game’s opening half but the two teams traded penalties for a 6-all scoreline nearing the break.

With the halftime siren looming, a pinpoint cross-field kick by Cooper allowed Jack Maddocks to outjump Hamish Stewart and give the Rebels an 11-6 advantage.

After the break, the Rebels capitalised on an early Reds penalty to again hold the territory advantage with Anaru Ra ngi peeling off the back of a maul to score.

Another Reds error, this time a dropped ball led to a third try for the Rebels in the 47th minute.

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Cooper pounced on the loose ball near the halfway line, twice soccering through before Maddocks won the race to extend the lead to 25-6.

The home team thought they’d got one back when Brandon Paenga-Amosa crashed over from close range but a TMO review after the try had been awarded detected a knock-on by Reds halfback Tate McDermott.

The Reds did eventually get a try when Taniela Tupou scored late in the game but the scoring wasn’t done with Rebels substitute Rob Leota capping a 15-phase move to score in the final minute and secure a bonus point.

Fittingly Cooper ended the action with a conversion, giving him a personal points haul of 12 with two penalties and three conversions.

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Melbourne host the Sunwolves next week while the Reds are at home against the Stormers.

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Nickers 19 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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