Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper (born 19 August 1985) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He is in his second stint with the Cowboys, having also played in the NRL for the Penrith Panthers and Gold Coast Titans. Cooper primarily plays in the second row but has also played in the centres.^[2] He started at second row in the Cowboys' 2015 NRL premiership and 2016 World Club Challenge winning sides and is a Queensland representative.

Background

Born in Murgon, Queensland, Gavin Cooper played his junior football for the Murgon Mustangs and joined the Redcliffe Dolphins as a teenager. In 2003, he was a member of the Dolphins' premiership-winning FOGS Colts team and named man of the match.^[3] In 2004, Cooper graduated to the Dolphins' Queensland Cup side, playing for them 13 times and represented the Queensland under-19 team.^[4] In August 2004, he signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2005 season.^[5]

In 2005, Cooper played for the Cowboys' Queensland Cup side, the North Queensland Young Guns. He was a member of the Young Guns premiership-winning side that season, playing alongside future Cowboys team mates Scott Bolton and Matthew Scott

Playing career

2006

In Round 2 of the 2006 NRL season, Cooper made his NRL debut for the Cowboys in their 20-16 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles. He played 18 games in his rookie season, scoring 3 tries, but would sign with the newly established Gold Coast Titans in July of that year, on a two-year deal.

2007-2008

After a solid season for the Gold Coast Titans in 2007, Cooper fell out of favour at the Titans in 2008, only playing 14 NRL games and spending time with the Titans Queensland Cup affiliate, the Ipswich Jets.^[6] He was not offered a new deal by the club and subsequently signed with the Penrith Panthers until the end of 2010.^[7]

2009-2010

In 2009, Cooper played 22 games with the Panthers, switching between the second-row and centre throughout the season. In 2010, he played 18 games, mainly off the bench, and played in his first NRL final series. On 27 August, Cooper re-joined the North Queensland Cowboys, signing a two-year deal with club as it underwent a total overhaul.^[8]

2011

In Round 7 of the 2011 NRL season, Cooper played his 100th NRL game in the Cowboys 30-12 victory over the Cronulla Sharks.^[9] He played 24 games in his first season back at the Cowboys, cementing his spot in the starting line-up at second-row. He won the Clubman of the Year award at the team's annual presentation ball at the end of the year.

2012

In 2012, Cooper started at second-row in every game for the Cowboys. He set a new record for the most tries in a season scored by a Cowboys' forward, with 10, beating team mate Scott Bolton's record of 7 tries in 2010. On 15 May 2012, he re-signed with the Cowboys for a further two seasons.^[10]

2013

After a solid season in which he played 22 games and scored 7 tries, Cooper earned his first senior representative jersey when he was selected to play alongside team mate James Tamou for the Prime Minister's XIII in their annual match against Papua New Guinea. He came off the bench in side's 50-10 win and was selected in the Australian World Cup train-on squad.^[11]

2014

In 2014, Cooper captained the Cowboys in the 2014 Auckland Nines. The side won the tournament, defeating the Brisbane Broncos in the final, with Cooper being named in the Team of the Tournament. On 12 May 2014, Cooper re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of 2017.^[12] A week later, Cooper dislocated his hip against the Sydney Roosters and was ruled out for 3 months.^[13] The injury cruelled his State of Origin chances after many pundits believed he was a definite starter come game I. He returned in Round 21 in the Cowboys 28-8 victory over the Gold Coast Titans and was selected at the end of the season in the Australian Four Nations train-on squad.

2015

In January 2015, Cooper was a member of the QAS Emerging Origin squad for the first time, at age 29.^[14] Later that month, he captained the Cowboys Auckland Nines side for the second year in a row.

In Round 11 of the 2015 NRL season, Cooper captained the Cowboys for the first time in the side's 8-0 victory over the Wests Tigers. After the Cowboys' 39-0 win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Week 2 of the 2015 NRL finals series, a Courier Mail article listed Cooper as the most underrated player in the competition.^[15] On 25 September, Cooper was named in Fox Sports' People's Choice Team of the Year.^[16]

On 4 October 2015, Cooper was a member of the Cowboys' Grand Final winning side, starting at second row in the side's 17-16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.

Cooper scored 11 tries in the regular season, the most of any backrower in the NRL.

2016

In February 2016, Cooper captained the Cowboys again in the Auckland Nines. On 21 February 2016, Cooper was a member of the Cowboys' World Club Challenge winning side, starting at second row in the side's 38-4 victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium. In mid April it was reported that Gavin Cooper would be a bolter for the Australian Test Team, he would just miss out on selection with Cowboys coach Paul Green going on the record and saying “I feel sorry for Coops every year around rep time. His name always gets mentioned and it happened again this year but unfortunately he didn't make the team. He's a terrific bloke and one of our leaders here I don't have to talk about how good a player he is. He wouldn't let anyone down. Hopefully he keeps doing the right thing. I am sure he will get an opportunity at some stage.”

From Rounds 5-10 of the regular NRL season, Cooper became the first forward in NRL history to score a try in six consecutive matches.

On 30 May, Cooper was announced as Queensland's 18th man for Game 1 of the 2016 State of Origin series. On 13 July, he made his debut for Queensland in Game 3 of the series, scoring a try^[17]

Cooper played 26 games for the Cowboys in 2016, captaining the side against the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 12.^[18]

Achievements and accolades

Individual

North Queensland Cowboys Clubman of the Year: 2011

Team

2014 NRL Auckland Nines: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
2015 NRL Grand Final: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners
2016 World Club Challenge: North Queensland Cowboys – Winners

Statistics

NRL

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2016 season ^[19]

State of Origin

Personal life

Cooper and his wife, Tenille Cooper (née Stephenson), have two sons named Archie and Reggie.^[20][21]

Cooper is the younger brother of former Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights player Dustin Cooper, who played 37 NRL games between 2003 and 2008.

References

External links

• North Queensland Cowboys profile