When was the last time he had a good game at Test level?
When was the last time that Lealiifano had a good game at test level at 10?
When was the last time that J'OC had a good game at test level at 10?
When has Beale strung more than one good game at test level at 10 in a row?
Then there's Barnes, who has shown he is less of an option at 10 than Cooper.
Yet people are saying these guys are our future at 10 at test level and Cooper is not.
Yes, we know you hate Cooper. I politely suggest you look past your bias for once. You'll be hard pressed to find someone that won't say that Cooper hasn't been a complete goose and screwed up.
On the flip side, I, for one, can't see how anyone can't see it's the ARU basically saying "screw you" to Quade after fining him $40k, plus $20k and 3 games suspended. The biggest cheer leaders for the reduced contract are the guys here who hate Cooper, which should tell you something. Meanwhile, it seems the Reds management agree the ARU punishing or forcing out Quade with the rookie contract offer.
Regarding Cooper saying it's not about the money: I have heard many people in my industry in Australia say that (I'm in an industry that is paid a lot less here than in the States, for example), but if their employer cut their pay, you can bet they'd piss off to a rival company, or join the finance industry, or go overseas.
You see, people can accept less than what others get in a different industry or overseas. But pay them less than the other people in their business, or gyp them on a bonus because they say it's not about the money, and the feel undervalues and insulted. Then just watch them leave.
Now, Cooper could have been exaggerating about it not being about the money, and likely he was. But it's not a strong argument at all.