QUADE Cooper has pledged to stay booze free for the Super 14 season to keep proving he is a changed man after winning a reprieve.
It's Diet Coke all the way for the Wallaby back, who realises the green light to play for Queensland again is not the finish line but only the start of repairing his sullied reputation.
Burglary charges and a court appearance in July for an alcohol-fuelled incident last December still hang over him.
Cooper was cleared yesterday for selection at flyhalf for the Reds' final trial in Perth tomorrow after a positive appraisal of his off-field efforts.
The Western Force game is only a trial yet the wayward Wallaby felt the thrill of something far greater. "It has been an anxious time. To hear those words 'you can play' was a feeling I can't explain," Cooper said.
"It's like being told you are playing for the Wallabies or Reds for the first time. I didn't expect anything. I was just worried about doing the things I had to off the field to get my life on track.
"It's back in my hands to keep going along the right path and keep getting it right because I can't drop off just because I'm able to play footy again. It's not over at all."
That is also the case with his intensive counselling and personal development program. Australian Rugby Union high-performance manager David Nucifora said Cooper had demonstrated the "commitment" to warrant selection again but would be "closely monitored".
"Quade has reflected on his past behaviour and recognised that the responsibility for any problems lies with him," Nucifora said. "We want to make it clear this is simply a starting point for Quade but we are pleased with his progress to date."
Cooper speaks with conviction about lasting changes to his habits yet he is still to leap the hurdles of tour temptations overseas during Super 14 and unwinding on the bye weekend.
"I'm staying off the booze. It's cut and dried, I'm not drinking during Super 14," Cooper promised.
"My teammates have been totally respectful and across the board have been helpful.
"Probably the biggest thing I've learnt out of this is that there are the responsibilities to being a footballer because there are 30 blokes in a squad, the fan base, the organisation and the corporates who depend on you.
"I let them down but hopefully I can start building some credibility into my image again."
Inside centre Anthony Fainga'a's strong trial form has been rewarded with a start in Perth.
His cohesion with clubmate Cooper suggests they could be the midfield pairing against NSW at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday week in the Super 14 opener.
REDS: P Hynes, L Morahan, D Ioane, A Fainga'a, R Davies, Q Cooper, W Genia (vc), E Taylor, D Braid, J Horwill (c), V Humphries, A Byrnes, L Weeks, J Hanson, G Holmes. Res: B Daley, S Hardman, J Slipper, R Simmons, S Higginbotham, R Kingi, B Lucas, M Turinui, B Connor.
