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Quade Cooper Hearing: The Verdict

Brumby Jack October 31, 2012 42

No GravatarThe verdict from Quade Cooper‘s hearing has just been handed down.

After the hearing and deliberations took more than four hours, the three-man panel comprising barrister Dominic Villa, David Giffin and Mark Woolley has found Cooper guilty on two charges and handed him the following penalty:

  • $40,000 fine – $10,000 of that applied to a tweet regarding an ARU licensed product, the video game ‘Rugby Challenge’;
  • a further $20,000 fine, suspended for two years;
  • a three-match ban suspended for two years, applicable to either Super Rugby or Test matches.

Cooper was ordered to face a code of conduct hearing after his comments last month after describing the Wallabies environment as ‘toxic’.

He addressed the large media contingent after the hearing, but didn’t take any questions.

“It was a very fair hearing and I was very happy with the outcome,” Cooper said.

“Obviously, the sentence that has been handed to me, I have full respect for that and I understand that I fell well below par in what it means to be a Wallaby.

“For all the supporters that are out there, my apologies.

“From now on, I’m just looking forward to the future – hopefully having a big year, with not only my state, but the Wallabies.

“And I’m very much looking forward to overcoming my injury and getting back out on the field.”

The ARU now considers the matter finalised and will proceed with the next stage of contract negotiations with Cooper that were put on hold whilst this matter was dealt with.

 

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POSTED IN » Queensland Reds, Super Rugby, Wallabies
About the author: Brumby Jack View all posts by
A Canberra born and bred Rugby tragic brought up on a diet of Canberra Kookaburra and ACT Brumbies Rugby. It was a choice between politics and Rugby, with Rugby the obvious winner.

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Discussion »

  • RoffsChoice

    Sure, Cooper was an idiot, but they just should have let it go.

    • bill

      no they shouldn’t have. Initial tweet was ok, and spontaneous, wouldn’t wan’t to change that, the rugby club interview, not so much.

      • bill

        be an interesting point, Roffs, I guess, regards to twitter and corporate bullshit

  • http://landoftheunit.wordpress.com/ Sully

    That’s massive! You beat me to it BJ

  • Patrick

    Pretty stiff hit -guess everyone else will have got the message now!

    • The Rant

      Yep. Loud and clear. That was clearly the whole point of this. No way they were going to let him get away with it.
      Actually pretty well handles from ARU’s side. They didn’t respond immediately and create a war of words. They just waited until he was done and it had all died down then cooly invited him to a hearing. Well taken by Cooper. Looks like he’s had a lesson.

  • http://www.facebook.com/alan.grouse Alan Grouse

    I think he is extremely lucky with the punishment thats been handed down after his bizarre outbursts. Cant help but feel if it was an All Black who behaved as Quade did their contract would have been ripped up.
    Points for admitting what he did was wrong and apologising. Lets hope he can give twitter and khoder a break, return to fitness and concentrate on playing the good footy he is capable of

    • The Other Dave

      Lucky? If someone knocked 40k from my pay packet, I would be less than thrilled.

      • http://www.facebook.com/alan.grouse Alan Grouse

        yeah but im guessing you dont earn as much as he and you would have more common sense then to use twitter and tv as a platform to air your criticisms (as odd as Quade’s were) of your employers. ARU did good in managing the whole thing

        IMO he is lucky after this and all his past well publicised indiscretions to still have a contract. However i thought his apology was honest and sincere and im glad he is still with us as when he is on fire he is an incredible player

        • Jimmydubs

          As a % of yearly salary if someone docked me that for saying where I worked was shit I would struggle with that.

        • Brums4Life

          If you said publicly that where you worked was shit you probably wouldn’t have a job or salary any more!

    • Brumby Runner

      The ABs don’t have the problems the Wallabies have. They play rugby as it should be played and every player has the opportunity to use their abilities to the full. This cannot be said of the Wallabies over recent years. Unfortunately, despite the sanctions on Cooper, the ‘environment’ is still there and looks like it will continue for some time. I don’t see that the fundamental problems have been solved yet.

      • Mica

        Hmmmm Aaron Smith anyone??

      • http://landoftheunit.wordpress.com/ Sully

        New CEO, A new coach within the year and a new management structure on the way. I think we’re a long way along the road to solving the problems.

        • Badaning59

          New coach within a year?
          If Deans is successful in the EYOT, you’re stuck with him through 2015. And as an Ab supporter, we’re ok with that :-)

  • ‘BoutBloodyTime

    Wow…$40 000 for free speech…it was stupid way to go about things, but that’s a pretty stiff hit…to provide a bit of perspective, I wonder if Kurtley has to cough up that much for his stoush with the bouncer…

    • Stu

      We dont have the right to free speech thing here

  • The Other Dave

    This could go either way (in cliches, of course!): It’s an attempt to rule a line under the affair and curtail any bad blood between players/officials, but I suspect this is fanning the embers and will therefore fail.

  • Ryphon

    Not surprised Quade was happy with their decision. The suspended penalties will only be enforced should he slip up again. To those thinking it’s a bit harsh, can you recall many other people getting away with such comments about their employers and still hanging around? Can’t be too many examples.

    • bill

      um, alll the time actually, have said far worse than what Quade said, but I don’t have any public profile to complicate matters.

      • Pclifto

        Exactly…

  • Stu

    Better to bin him and move on. That would send a stronger message to any other malcontents. Sure, the stats show him to be an asset but its hard to see him in that light. Silly little git.

    • bill

      fuck the stats look at the quality of play.

  • Vladim

    Truth is there are two issues involved in this case.

    1) Was Cooper right about what he was pointing at? Then, ethically speaking, he HAD to express himself about it, and we should thank him for that, for showing that much commitment for this team even if it puts himself on the fringe.

    2) Was he allowed to speak? I mean, on a strict professional level. Has he signed a contract? Is he compelled to silence?

    It is all a matter of ethics vs law. If he broke a law, it is hard not to sentence him. But we must not forget about what he was pointing at: was he spiteful or right?

    • Johnny-boy

      He was right, as time will tell, although I think the training facility comment was probably something he just blurted out under the pressure of tv cameras. As Marto said he was pretty nervous and a lot of people bagging him for that comment would disintegrate in to nervous nellies in front of the same cameras and multiple interviewers

  • DameEdnasPossum

    Free speech my arse. We live in an age when too many people think they are entitled to say what they want, when they want (just like me now I guess!) Frankly I couldn’t give a toss about what morons like Sunny Bill Quade has got to say about anything – I want to see him do his talking on the pitch. Speak loud and clear out there on match day then go and live your life. Whether you like the plan or not is irrelevant – you’re paid to implement it to the best of your ability…so get on with it and stop making excuses.

    Cooper needed to pull his head in and follow the appropriate channels. What goes on tour stays on tour and not on twitter.

    The ARU has now made an example of this muppet and set a clear standard for the team i.e. dumb (free) speech that undermines the team = expensive speech for the ego with his mouth open. Well done ARU. The team and the code will be all the better for it.

    To his credit Cooper has taken it like a man. 40 grand & a dunce cap – ohhh…that’s gotta hurt.

    • bill

      I’m sure the ladyboys take that view as well.

      • http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/ Matt Rowley

        Bill – I think you need a cold shower. Or maybe you’ve got your internet bookmarks mixed up?

        • bill

          true, shouldn’t diss the ladyboys. reference was to the what happens on tour stays on tour paradigm, not my fevered bookmarks list, which may or may not include Ladyboys….. and 5 dwarves and a cucumber, not that there’s anything wrong with that..

  • bill

    Good result for Quade, good result for the ARU, and a lot more mature of the ARU, let’s see Mr Cooper match that maturity and repay the faith.

    ….fuck, Robbie’s still in charge…I really hope Robbie is like Sherlock Holmes and comes back to backing his AVAILABLE players’ abilities instead of playing risk management with his gameplan.

  • goldie

    I think it’s an absolute gutless response by the Aru,how desprate are we? Do we really need this toxic player who claims “i wont play for my country unless they play a style that suits me”. I believe we don’t need em and his ego.We need to concentrate on potential test fly halfs like kurtley and james to carry the wallabies into the future.QCs had his chance and in all honesty, he hasn’t done much in gold to warrant his superstar status.in my veiw we should have shown him the door! He’s still that same kid I watched come through the development teams with
    the “i can walk on water” attitude,we dont need it.ohwell i’ll just wait for his next stuff up and that’s when not if! He hasn’t learnt his lesson and neither has australian rugby.

    • bill

      How does the guy have an “I walk on water attitude”?

      Try playing 5/8 when all you’ve got is crash tackle, cut out pass or run…having played as a 7 and 5/8 I would have loved my opposition to be that restricted. Lots of tackles for me, yum. Hope you’ve got insurance.

  • Jimmydubs

    $10,000 for saying a computer game is shit???

    • Bobas

      unrealistic as quade can tackle

  • Johnny-boy

    Not too bad a result. The ARU has to cover it’s backside I suppose and look like it’s in control and passify a few of their egos. It’s good that Quade was given the opportunity to explain his points of view away from an unnerving television camera.

    The leniency does make it appear the ARU has conceded that it (and it’s coach) are part of the problem.

    It could also be suggested that JON was part of the problem because his focus on the money meant he didnt want to put any of the 3 amigos offside. It was obvious from JOC not turning up for the world cup announcement etc. that they have little or no respect for the coach or JON and the fact there has never been any serious punishment before spoke volumes.

    It’s good that the ARU has finally shown some leadership. It’s what these young guys need.

    There is a glimmer of hope that the ARU without JON will now take the next step to alllow the Wallabies perform to their true potential and give the players a dynamic competent Australian coach they can believe in and be inspired by. They can’t continue to stifle their careers for much longer. It’s unfair.

  • Saus

    Maybe taking his phone off him would have been a better punishment ;-)

  • http://lachlancathy.com/ Lachlan Payne

    I reckon the ARU got it just about right, although I would like to have seen it dealt with much earlier. A suspended ban is a good disincentive to not be a mug again, and he’s already missed enough rugby through injury over the last 12 months to have an immediate ban applied (which would have been counterintuitive).

    I was also pretty happy to see QC speak humbly and apologetically. Clearly he’s an honest and passionate guy, just one who’s easily influenced and obviously has a few bad eggs around him (e.g. Khoder).

    As for all this free speech nonsense… pretty sure he has a lucrative contract — which he signed — which would include things like this and bringing the game in to disrepute. Can’t have much sympathy for someone going on The Rugby Club as he did and saying what he said. He let his team mates down and disrespected the GOLD jersey.

    Let’s just hope it’s all behind us and now he can get back to fitness and figure how to translate his Super Rugby form to the test arena.

    P.S. KB is a better 10 anyway.

    • Mica

      I think that QC refers to it as the “yellow jersey”. How it made me cringe when he put it as such!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Pedro

    It’s a more mature result than pretending it was all fine and then never picking him again. I hope the suspended parts hinge on missed tackles and the money is used for something real like grass roots rugby or a deserving charity.

  • ihatehotmail

    Campo made a career out of being outspoken and criticising everything and everyone. Farr-Jones told his coach to “get f____d” and stormed off during a training session in the UK. Kearns gave Fitzy a happy “2 bangers on the barby please mate”. And all the world is condemning QC for voicing his opinion? Are we all getting a precious? We say we want rugby players with balls & attitude & a non-robotic style and yet we crucify them for being that off the pitch! Most are thinking the same thing anyway. EVERY 5/8 has kicked down the throat of the best back 3 in world at counter attack from under a high ball: Barnes, Cooper, then Beale. And mindless grubbers after winning turnover ball…. Who’s instruction did that come from? But for the last test the Wallabies have been playing DUMB and mindless rugby with little direction. A guy with QC’s style of play is of course going nuts! And yet we all forget Campo leaning against a goal post mid game at Concorde out of protest at the boring play his team was playing? Short memories people. I’m not saying QC should be let off nor is the greatest rugby player. Just some perspective. The bloke just needs to do what most players do and get their managers to edit first or post on the social forums on their behalf.

    • DameEdnasPossum

      Your points, while somewhat valid, are out of date. You refer to events in the pre-professional era. Things have moved on in terms of player profiles, remuneration, technology and accessibility. The players also must move on and behave like the professionals they are paid to be. There’s a way to go about things and QC didn’t choose very wisely…kind of like his decisions on the pitch a little too often.

      • Jimmy

        Totally agree. When you are essentially a “volunteer” you can get away with a lot more. When you are being paid to represent your organisation and have a binding contract you are expected to behave in a way that doesn’t embarrass your employer and honors the terms and conditions of your contract. If these guys are going to play Rugby as a “job” it’s about time there were some changes in attitude. Showing “heart” etc is great but when your fundamental skills are lacking there really is no excuse when you are being paid to possess these things.

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