Young blokes at risk?
The reported incident on the Gold Coast involving Quade Cooper and allegations of burglary has the potential to turn nasty and markedly set back his union career in Australia.
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past 24 hours you may not know Cooper was arrested by Gold Coast Police for allegedly breaking into an apartment in the early hours of Sunday morning and taking some property.
He was apparently located nearby the premises with police sources intimating that he had to be subdued by capsicum spray during his arrest.
Potential to turn nasty? On the face of it you’d have to say that as alleged footy outrages go, of the rugby union variety, it probably couldn’t get much worse.
Before we go any further let’s remember that this guy has, and deserves, the presumption of innocence. These allegations haven’t yet been tested in court so it’s not our business to try and prove or disprove them here.
The thing that is most annoying about this sort of incident is the damage it does to both him and to our code when it becomes public property and when the ramifications are fully laid out.
This is a talented young guy who has just returned from establishing himself as a credible inside back option in Robbie Dean’s ‘new world’.
He is still finding his legs at this level but there are promising signs that this highly skillful player is developing into a really good find.
Then this happens. Regardless of guilt or innocence there are going to be some very unhappy administrators in the ARU that he allowed himself, at the very least, to be put in such a compromising position.
Unlike their rugby league counterparts, the ARU takes a very dim view of behavioural matters which are likely to bring the game into disrepute. Now, this is undoubtedly one of those circumstances.
I would consider that the situation he now finds himself in is more serious than Tuqiri or Henjak’s, especially if the matter is proven.
We all know what happened to them when they breached the ARU Code of Conduct on a number of occasions. It’s a three strikes and you’re out policy.
Now my understanding is that there may already be ‘strikes’ recorded on Cooper’s docket? Not so much the ‘jolly japes’ food fight business but the $10,000 fine for breaking a taxi driver’s window in Brisbane earlier this year. Who knows whether there have been others or not?
In terms of the options available to the rugby union it is common for players to be stood down pending an investigation by an appointed authority.
Cooper is on holiday at the moment so that may not be a necessary or prudent course of action. Inevitably, some retired QC will be investigating it on their behalf.
I would think that the ARU/QRU as his employer will be establishing the lay of the land leading up to his court appearance later this week; trying to get a handle on the circumstances; perhaps the weight of evidence and some sense of culpability.
It sounds as though there is some water to go under the bridge before this is resolved and any defended hearing will prolong the matter for some months.
Not that we know this was the story in his case, but we’ve seen lots of young blokes who have the world at their feet go and ruin it by alcohol affected stupidity.
I guess we were all young once but I never spent a night in the nick (not on that side anyway).
Lawyers for Cooper have urged the public not to pre-judge their client. That’s fair enough, it’s their job to say that and they’re right.
I’m hoping that there were extenuating or other circumstances that we don’t know about yet that will allow him to fight this off and continue playing professionally in Queensland.
Anyone with convictions will increasingly find it difficult to get work visas to play overseas, as we’ve recently seen with our mungo mates.
It looks to me like, whatever the outcome, there are usually no winners in these things and there may be some hard lessons learned, to the detriment of the player, his team and our game.
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Lance Free: A nasty, opinionated little man whose narrow views and felonious intent can only mean 'Trouble' with a capital T. Interests: dwarf throwing and robotics. Favourite Sport: mungo bashing. Does he ever have anything positive to say? 
can’t wait to hear quade’s version of events
He obviously has a serious issue with the grog….The ARU should not cut him loose. Pay for him to go get treatment. Show the kid some support. The last thing he needs is some high and mighty nose in the air ARU officials acting like they never pushed it a little too far.
He is probably going to get community service or something like that legally….Support him after that. There are plenty of Wallabies, ex and current that have done equally stupid things whilst having an end of season session.
Dont reckon he would have problems as in ‘addicition’ or anything, he just gets pissed and acts like a dick head, like every 21 yr old i know.
Obviously its different if your a wallaby, but he just needs to pull his head in really at certain points.
Well said Ben. Let’s not hang, draw and quarter him just yet. Let’s wait and see what the whole situation was about. He’ll be judged on the evidence.
I think the issue with the ARU/QRU side of things is that he may have to face a Code of Conduct charge (due to the nature of the circumstances) even if he got off the criminal matter.
If the young guys needs some support – it should be provided.
I agree – I see this with Andrew Walker written all over it. They need to support the players away from the limelight.
in anycase, I always thought his haircut looked to mungo for union.
My problem is that the young players do indeed need support, that support should be disclipling them telling them that they are not above the law and they have an example to set. I honestly have no problem if the ARU parts ways with Quade Cooper and he can come back in 5 or so years when he has matured. Now is not right for him.
Well fellas maybe I come from a harder upbringing, but I subsribe to the adage – do the crime – do the time. If, and I emphasise IF, he is found guilty of the allegations. He should be sacked from game and suspended for a period reflecting the crime. If you or I did in most of our jobs – we would be guilty of gross misconduct and sacked – and thats what should happen.
As an employee of the ARU – he should recieve no different treatment. Let him return to the game when he has learnt his lesson and served his time.
If we accept this behaviour and make excuses for the guy – what sort of example are we setting for the kids and the up and come’rs?
Learn from the NRL – softly softly has done them no favours.
HH
I agree, he was observed theiving, http://bit.ly/5IgJtU
if it wasn’t him he was with the person who did it. Obviously he is keeping bad company and what about the influence he has on the younger members of our rep teams they only know. I’m an even harder task master if you are sacked from your job you never get taken back. He must be stood down immediately without pay until circumstances are disproved. This is the worst case by far of any team indiscretions, there is no place in our rep teams for common thieves. If he gets off this he will need to change his habits and aquaintances bigtime and I agree with you change his hairstyle. If he does end up going its no big deal, Dingo will handle it. Just a shame that he has brought himself, his team, his coach, family and Australians dishonour and disgrace.
Bloody shame but have to agree with the Hog. Gotta go.
And just when I thought he was looking the goods.
I understand all the “angry young man” stuff and reckon most of us have done some stupid stuff we’d rather forget. I also reckon most of us paid a price for it. His ARU contract will be a pretty big price for the young fella.
Mind you his “spatial awareness” will be finely honed if he is thrown into the Big House with that pretty hair…..
I thought I read in Kiwi news that Quade didn’t put up a struggle at all. Offered no resistence I think was the phrase used. Ah well, the media.
Quade has got “growing up” problems and they are associated with anger related to unresolved issues. I happen to know this and I’ve always been a bit surprised that he’s made it in Union this far and kept more or less out of trouble. The taxi incident was, imho, just the tip of the iceberg with him.
All of which is not to say that he’s guilty or even not guilty. The legal system will take its inexorable pathway, but at the end of it he will still be a young man with big issues in his life. Guilty or not guilty, one way or another I just hope that he can get some help for his problems; which indeed is my sentiment for any young person in a similar situation.
You can’t take Tokaroa out of the boy.
Given he was on holidays and away from duty for the QRU & ARU their involvement may be minimal, which would save them from having to deal with it like they did with Lote & Henjak.
I’m not sure that’s how it works Batmann. I would have thought that as a contracted player he’d be subject to the Code of Conduct whether he’s on holiday or not. Maybe it would be regarded as more serious if it was committed while in camp…..
Of course something like this had to happen. The Red’s Murphy’s Law dictates that 2 (a) Under no circumstances shall the QLD Reds be able to field their strongest team in any one game Players generally just get injured. Sanchez did take that to a new level a couple years ago when he dropped a fridge on himself like Wile E Coyote. But QC, bravo, you have embraced the law of Murphy (with obvious diregard to the Law of QLD) and really taken it up a notch. So what’s next? Link gets pinged for tax fraud? Big Kev on community service for taking fruit over a border? Maybe Sanchez will continue the Wile E Coyote theme and end up, in some miraculous chain of events, catapulting himself into the side of a mountain….
Here’s some general info from the bush lawyer:
The Queensland Criminal Code allows people to escape responsibility for crimes they commit while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, only if they did not intend to become intoxicated or drug-affected at the time.
Regardless of whether they deliberately consumed too much alcohol or not, self induced drunkenness can be taken into account when courts decide whether a person deliberately intended to commit a crime.
In the case of burglary (break and enter with intent to cause an indictable offence inside the dwelling), intent has to be proven.
Cut the dude some slack. There is obviously more of the story to come out – it just doesn’t add up. All very strange.
Then again, if the ARU has their way, nobody will ever hear the full story and Quade will be forced offshore in disgrace. Lote, anyone?
Middle way – offer counselling and support and a return to the game AFTER he shows appropriate remorse and does some time in community service away from the game. He has to show some steel, too.
Don’t pamper him or treat him like a victim, but don’t just cut him loose and let him drown.
get him a really good life coach!!!!
Do you know somebody who fits that description?
I’ve got some contacts I could ask…
noddy you still looking for a job mate?
It is suggested that poor Quade is an angry young man, considering he earns more than the prime minister at 21 years of age, travels the world all expenses paid playing sport for a living, representing his country, honour,glory,fame,wealth and probably an abundance of groupies can someone tell me what he is angry about? It is suggested that we have all done silly things when we were young and intoxicated – agreed, silly things like vomitting on our own new shoes, saying something you live to regret – but we are not talking silly we are talking criminal – kicking down someones front door invading their home and robbing them is NOT something we have all done with a few drinks under the belt. To be a victim of this sort of crime can be very traumatic. I do not want this loser representing me on the international stage. His behaviour is a disgrace to the wallabies jumper. The best we could do is gift-wrap him and ship him back to new zealand and hope they are stupid enough to take him back.
Well I knew a bloke that knew a bloke that broke into the house (in a non destructive fashion) he thought he was Billeted in while on tour and grabbed a little kip just before dawn, only to realise at dawn he had managed to break into his Billet’s neighbors house.
All done under the influence and no harm intended but technically it was Break and Enter. Like I said silly, regrettable, young and foolish.
I agree he is lucky to have what he have and I agree he should lose his job but I also think there should be a way back in time. Who knows why he did it.
There is my 2 cents. I’d like 1 cent change please.
My housemate almost did something similar, he was so pissed he went to our neighbours house and was knocking on the door and then windows (his keys didn’t work) for what he claimed was ages. I was asleep and eventually he called my phone to ask where I was and eventually I woke up and heard him at our neighbours and called him over to the right house. My mate is 6’6″ and fairly solid.
He didn’t remember much of it in the morning.
Problem is guys, I don’t think Quade lives next door to the students?
It’s pretty well established that what you earn has got nothing to do with how responsible you are in your private life, i.e Tiger Woods. Tiger didn’t commit a crime, but to his wife and family he’s done something a lot bigger than break into someone’s house.
I’ve been around way too many larrikans and outright losers in my life to want to make excuses for Quade, but Toddy your remarks have the taint of hate and ignorance. I hope you don’t mean them the way I’m reading them.
I wont use the word hate but I will tell you what I dont like. I dont like the prepardness of some to laugh this off over a few beers as Quade getting up to some larrikin fun on a saturday night. If we are to believe the reports in the media this is not an innocent mistake while under the influence. According to the media the door was kicked in and property stolen and it is suggested that he had to be subdued by capsicum spray when being arrested. No innocent mistakes there. I do not know the victims and therefore do not know the psychological impact this may have had on them. Depending on the individual it may be zero or it may have a long lasting detrimental effect on their mental well-being.
Well I would be the last person to try and laugh it off and nothing I’ve said should indicate that I would.
Home invasion is a very serious crime. If he is found guilty he should suffer for it. Even if he’s not found guilty he’s going to suffer for it. To be very blunt, as a Kiwi I’m immensely ashamed of his behaviour and even if he can get off on some technicality, it won’t change how bad I feel about it.
But hoping that we are stupid and will take him off your hands isn’t helpful to the debate.
The bit about “Gift-wrap him and ship him back…” was an attempt at humour (an unsuccessful one perhaps..)
You poor poor boy, blinded by thinking that if a man has everything he wants an could ever need he couldn’t be mad, angry or anything els, you’ve got a lot to learn. Who will you want to see packing and going back to NZ when he brings the next world cup home with him, yeah achievable in every aspect!!
I’m also inclined to be harsh on him.
The very first time I set eyes on QC, I could tell that he’s trouble. It’s plain obvious.
Turning up to training and playing well are not the only obligations these guys are supposed to have. Wearing the jumper and representing your country is a lifestyle, not a part-time job. That means keeping a lid on your behaviour at all times.
I don’t care if you’re young and just want to do stupid things like other young people – boohoo, poor you – the fact is, you’re not like other young people, you’ve been given this opportunity in life that most people give their left nut for, and you need to work for it. If this means keeping your shlong in your shorts, keeping a lid on your drinking or keeping your fists in your pockets (preferably minus loot) then that’s what you have to do. (not referring to anyone in particular in these examples, more to sports starts in general).
You can’t have everything.
And herewith endeth my lesson in self righteousness.
You could tell he was trouble by looking at him? Plain obvious? Scintillating analysis! Move over Sigmund Freud.
It’s a gift that I have. Don’t be jealous. Jealousy makes you nasty. Nasty makes you fat.
Ur mad aren’t you, with the loss of your left nut and all. He isn’t any trouble at all, he is just misunderstood and wrongly interpreted. If he wants to drink [ or anything ells he wants to do] let him do it, in the end it is not u who has to take responsibility for what he has done no one ells.
My place was broken into on Sunday and 2 laptops stolen along with a few other things.
I wish Quade had done it because I’d have all my stuff back by now…
His silence on the issue and refusal to answer phone calls from teammates and his employers until late yesterday doesn’t paint a good picture. Unless he comes up with a bloody good excuse over the next couple of days it is hard to see how he can continue in the code. “I can’t remember” won’t cut it.
Yes, the Reds will be shit without him but that’s not going to be any different to the last 8 seasons is it…
No it won’t cut it and my distinct feeling is that his playing days may well be over. As for his on field contribution, I was personally never much of a fan of his. In fact it’s only his recent tour form which has tended to change my mind – a bit.
Maybe the Reds wont be shit without him. Its a shame they lost Barnes but they seem to have the knack of unearthing nuggets of gold from their academy, where were they hiding Will Genia? In recent times they threw up Pocock, O’connor etc. It wouldn’t suprise me if they produced an unknown to carry the day as an inside back…
I really think they’re 2 hard on him, c’mon which of us didn’t screw up once in our lives? Just help him to learn from his mistakes and keep on being who he is. Cos something like this crap can ruin a man!!