Cooper, Frisby out of favour at Ballymore

Sun, Dec 3, 2017, 12:45 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Quade Cooper may have played his last game for the Reds. Photo: QRU Media
Quade Cooper may have played his last game for the Reds. Photo: QRU Media

Quade Cooper and Nick Frisby may have played their last games for the Reds, with new coach Brad Thorn eager to start fresh at Ballymore in 2018.

It was revealed on Sunday that Cooper is not training with the Reds and that he has been told he is no longer part of the team's plans moving forward.

The same has been told to Frisby, according to Thorn.Quade Cooper may have played his last game for the Reds. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley"I’ve had honest conversations with Quade Cooper and Nick Frisby about where they currently sit in our plans for 2018," he said.

"They’re not training with the Reds at the moment and will be training with their clubs instead."

Frisby has struggled for form throughout 2017, falling behind James Tuttle during Nick Stiles' tenure as coach, but the call to promote either young gun Hamish Stewart or Duncan Paia'aua as the team's preferred flyhalf is an enormous one.

Cooper is a 70-Test Wallaby and has two years left on his current contract but it's understood he is now exploring his playing options through his management.Nick Frisby has fallen out of favour at Ballymore. Photo: QRU Media/Brendan HertelThis is sure to raise a few eyebrows among Queensland's loyal support base, with Cooper a beloved son after he steered the team to a Super Rugby title in 2011.

That was a long time ago, though, and he has recently fallen out of the Wallaby fold.

His form in the back half of the Super Rugby season was very patchy and there was talk at Ballymore, internally, that Stewart may put him under pressure in 2018.

Share
Schmidt happy to snatch last-minute winner as Wallabies turn focus to Lions series
Five things we learned from Wallabies - Fiji
Harry Wilson scored the winner as the Wallabies came home late for the win. Photo: Getty Images
Oh Captain, My Captain: Wilson last-minute winner seals Wallabies win over Fiji
AS IT HAPPENED: Last-gasp Wallabies survive Fiji surge to claim maiden Newcastle win