Quade Cooper sidelined for 10-12 weeks due to injury

[Darren]

St.George Queensland Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper will be sidelined for 10-12 weeks after suffering a fractured collar bone during a training session at Ballymore Stadium on Thursday.

The 26-year-old playmaker, who was out for 16 weeks in 2014 due to an AC joint injury, will have surgery this Tuesday to repair the fracture, which occurred around the previous operation site. The decision was made Friday afternoon, after scans and a consultation with the Reds’ surgeon.

Reds head coach Richard Graham said: “It’s disappointing to lose Quade to such an innocuous collision during an opposed training session, but this is the nature of contact sport. Fortunately, we’ve recruited well in the off-season and we’re comfortable we have a number of options available to us.”

Cooper said: “I'm gutted to be missing the start of the season, but injury setbacks are something you learn to deal with and this isn’t the first time I’ve had to come back from something like this. There’s a lot of excitement among the group for the season, so it’s good motivation for me to give myself every chance of getting back on the field as soon as possible.”

[GIGS20]

Great, so now we get to hear more of Quade talking!

I much prefer it when he's playing rugby and doesn't have time to do media, it's not that his rugby is all that good, but it's less painful than watching him be interviewed.

[beige]

I'm not jumping for joy - we need as many options as possible come World Cup time.

[jono]

I'm not jumping for joy - we need as many options as possible come World Cup time.

Yeah. We need everyone to have a full season so they're ready.

[UNCLE BOOG]

Yeah. We need everyone to have a full season so they're ready.

Quade will probably walk into a spot at the RWC, so we definitely need him to play a full season, rather than turn up rusty(er)

[jargan83]

On the plus side (if there is a plus side to an injury) he has done it very early in the year. Heaps of time before the World Cup.

[jono]

On the plus side (if there is a plus side to an injury) he has done it very early in the year. Heaps of time before the World Cup.

That's the silver lining I spose. Will also give him a bit of an extended break
We have several options @ 10, so it could be worse.

[Basha69]

Who's going to fill the 10 spot in his absence?

[jono]

Duncan Paia'aua is their other specialist fly half. Otherwise maybe JOC?

[blueandblack]

On the plus side (if there is a plus side to an injury) he has done it very early in the year. Heaps of time before the World Cup.

and he misses out playing under RG for a while (like last year). Genius!

[James]

They will be ripe for the plucking when we face them in Brisbane in round 2. Lots of guys out.

[shasta]

Who's going to fill the 10 spot in his absence?

Maybe the Mungo/Boganballer? Played 10 with Biarritz before going to AFL. JOC to 15?

[jono]

They will be ripe for the plucking when we face them in Brisbane in round 2. Lots of guys out.

Here's hoping!

[wholetruth]

Please please let it be JoC. Nobody in the backs will have to tackle outside the No.10 then and yet more rifts will appear in the Reds.