Leading edge got him back
RESPECTED secondrower Gavin Cooper has revealed how being handed the role of acting captain at NRL level helped him get a second chance in the Origin arena tonight.
In Game Three last season, Cooper was finally rewarded for seasons of top quality performances for the Cowboys with a Maroons call-up.
He scored a try in a solid debut but was pushed out by the time Queensland named their Origin I side this time around.
It could have easily stamped the end of the 31year-old’s representative career.
Cooper could have been forgiven for dropping his lip – but he had no opportunity to do so, given he had to go straight back to leading from the front in a North Queensland outfit decimated by injuries, including to regular co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.
“The team usually picks itself for Queensland and it has had some great success over a lot of years doing that so I can’t begrudge anyone that was picked before me,” Cooper said.
“So I just went back and just did what I had to do at club footy.
“We had a couple of our boys out, Thumper (Scott) has been out all year and Johnno (Thurston) has been out so I couldn’t walk around kicking stones because I am the oldest there now and have been the stand-in captain.
“If I was going back there kicking stones while all those boys are out, they needed me to do a job there and if I didn’t do that, I may not have put myself in a position to get picked now.”
Cooper credits left edge partner in crime Thurston’s return from injury for helping his own recall.
“When we finally make a statue of him somewhere I’ll take a photo next to it and tell the kids I used to run around with him,” he said of the legendary half.
Cooper says his 12 seasons of NRL football have him feeling comfortable as a second-game Origin player and tonight, with a possible 80-minute role at ANZ Stadium, he has the chance to nail his place for years to come.
“I’m here now. I’d love to keep playing,” the former Titan said.
“I have just signed another couple of years at the Cowboys so if I’m going good enough at club footy I would like to think that I am in with a chance of the selection panel … I’ll be out there balls and all and we’ll see what comes at the end of the game.”
WHEN WE FINALLY MAKE A STATUE OF HIM SOMEWHERE I’LL TAKE A PHOTO NEXT TO IT AND TELL THE KIDS I USED TO RUN AROUND WITH HIM. GAVIN COOPER TALKING ABOUT JOHNATHAN THURSTON