Cooper converts Reds' fans
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: When crowd favourite Quade Cooper went south to join the Melbourne Rebels after being unwanted by Reds head coach Brad Thorn, they risked a number of fans going with him.
Delivering a Super Rugby title to the hapless Reds in 2011 was always going to provide some level of emotional attachment to their favourite star, so when he returned to beat his old team there no shortage of Reds fans cheering him on.
Some describe feeling elated at seeing Cooper beat his old team, while some claimed to still be ‘ashamed’ at how the organisation treated one of the most decorated players.
Being a reds suppporter I Couldnt be anymore happier with @QuadeCooper getting the win over the reds tonight!! Well deserved win! Quade, Genia, Digby, Samo and Faingaa brothers were the reasons i supported the reds. Good luck for the rest of the season #SuperRugby #RedsVsRebels
— Stanley Natuoivi ♠️ (@StanleyNatuoivi) March 30, 2019
@QuadeCooper, I’m a Reds man for life. I was and still am ashamed of what the Reds-can’t just name BT- did to you. You had a great game tonight and a sensational post match interview. Rock on Quade, green and gold wait for you!
— Finn (@Finn77722) March 30, 2019
Genia and Cooper make triumphant return to Suncorp Stadium while Reds leave red-faced #REDvREB https://t.co/jEdgYAvS5u
— Jim Tucker (@HulaBulaJim) March 30, 2019
Cooper turned up in the 32-13 thrashing of the young Reds side, adding two more try assists to his season-leading tally of eight. The Rebels moved to reclaim top spot in the Australian conference after the Waratahs lost to the Sunwolves on Friday night.
“There was a few people that sort of feel that I must have left them,” Cooper told Fox Sports in his post-match interview.
“But it wasn’t the boys that didn’t want me. The boys were the ones that we were playing against and I love those boys.”
Cooper said that he still supports the Reds whenever they aren’t playing the Rebels and that seeing the side struggle makes him sad.
“For me, I don’t want to see them go down, I want to win when we play against them but I’m always supporting them. I want this franchise to do well.
“It’s a little bit sad to see when they’re struggling a little bit, on and off the field.”
Brad Thorn offered short praise to the pair of former Reds’ halves following the loss.
“He’s on the winning side and he contributed to a really good win for them,” Thorn said.
“So well done to him and Will.
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