NZ team agoin women’s NRL?
Quade Cooper could become a star in the NRL next season if there was a club prepared to take a risk on him.
That’s the view of former dualcode international Mat Rogers, who believes the dumped Queensland Reds playmaker can transition between the codes.
Kiwi-born Cooper is mulling his options after being told by new Reds coach Brad Thorn that he wasn’t in his plans for 2018.
With no other Australian Super Rugby teams interested, the 29-year-old is believed to be considering a stint in Japanese rugby but also has long-held ambitions of playing in the NRL.
He was close to signing for Parramatta several years ago but ultimately chose to stay in rugby ahead of the 2011 World Cup, where he starred for the Wallabies.
After a seven-year career in rugby league Rogers joined the NSW Waratahs for five seasons.
He then linked up with the Gold Coast Titans in their inaugural NRL season.
While Cooper clearly hasn’t had that rugby league lineage, Rogers says he could be a success at the right club.
‘‘I’ve always rated him, no question about that,’’ Rogers said.
‘‘I’ve always thought that he’d be a great league player.
‘‘It’s just about finding a club that would be prepared to back him and take that punt and persist with him getting fit enough and accustomed to playing the game.
‘‘I don’t know who that could be ... [not] the Titans. They’ve got enough issues to deal with to throw another one in the mix. But a club like the Broncos, perhaps.
‘‘They’ve got pretty handy halves and you could bring him off the bench — similar to what they did with Benji [Marshall].’’
Cooper has no professional experience in rugby league but he did play the 13-man code as a junior.
As yet, no NRL club has expressed interest in him.
‘‘It’s going to be one of those things,’’ Rogers said.
‘‘He might become a star but he might be a flop, too — not that I think he would be.’’ New Zealand coach Tony Benson believes the proposed women’s NRL competition has to include a Kiwi team for it to be successful.
Following the Women’s Rugby League World Cup, which Australia won after edging the Kiwi Ferns in last week’s final, talks have ramped up around plans for a women’s club competition in 2018.
The NRL is making an announcement on the future of women’s rugby league on Wednesday afternoon (NZ time).
One of the options being touted is a six-team tournament to take place during the finals series of the men’s NRL premiership.
Benson said there was no doubt that the inclusion of a New Zealand team would make for a stronger product.
‘‘It’s well overdue. You can see the standard of rugby league that was out there during the World Cup final,’’ he told NRL.com.
‘‘You spread them around a few clubs and you will have a really good competition.
‘‘We don’t know if there will be a New Zealand team, we haven’t heard anything, but that would be ideal. That would be perfect.
‘‘The money won’t be like the men’s competition so it is unlikely the players will be relocating with their families.
‘‘For it to work I think we need a New Zealand team.’’
After winning the first three world cups, the Kiwi Ferns have been surpassed by Australia, who secured back-to-back titles with Saturday’s thrilling 23-16 victory.
The women’s game has enjoyed a spike in popularity across the Tasman, with participation up by 32 per cent in 2017, while the Jillaroos have also benefited by an increase in funding.
But Australia coach Brad Donald said that does not mean they should ignore New Zealand for any future competition.
‘‘They are ready to go aren’t they? They can basically pull a national team together and stick it in the competition,’’ Donald said.
‘‘Again, one of the things we want to see if we get to the point where we have an NRL competition is that people want to watch it.
"I've always thought that he'd be a great league player."
League great Mat Rogers on Quade Cooper
‘‘The girls have worked hard, all of these girls have worked hard to get there.
‘‘They’ve earned their right to be a part of it and the Kiwi Ferns are definitely that.’’