He called the lay-off a ''blessing in disguise'' and said he would return to the field a more ''complete player''.
''I want to be a better player throughout, not just be the same player that's there before,'' Cooper said. ''I'm not taking six to nine months off for no reason so, in that time, I want to work on the skill aspect of my game and the physical aspects of my game, so I want to be in a better physical position than I was and, mentally, be a lot tougher.''
At the risk of stirring things up can I just make the comment that 6 to 9 months on the tackling bags (among other rehab type things) is a blessing in disguise for him and us supporters of Australian rugby.