Quade Cooper’s controversial agent, Khoder Nasser, insists the young rugby superstar would be foolish not to consider making a shock NRL defection Brisbane Broncos after the Rugby World Cup this year.
Khoder Nasser, who manages Anthony Mundine and Sonny Bill Williams, took over Cooper’s management just four days ago and has one eye on the future when his ARU contract expires in October.
Cashed-up Parramatta went close to luring Cooper to the NRL last year and the Broncos have not ruled out making a play for the rugby whiz to groom him as a potential replacement for retiring champion playmaker Darren Lockyer.
Cooper’s flimsy defence is seen as a big problem in league but there is no doubt he is one of the few rolled gold stars who would be able to set the turnstiles clicking at Broncos games.
In rugby circles, Nasser is viewed as an unpredictable wildcard but the player agent has always walked to the beat of his own drum and makes no apologies for doing so.
Nasser insists Cooper, who turns 23 on Tuesday, is focused on the World Cup in New Zealand starting in September but would be silly not to consider any potential approaches from the Broncos, who are set to sign supercoach Wayne Bennett.
Nasser said: “As a manager involved with a professional athlete like Quade, I think it is important he have as many options on the table as possible. He would be foolish to rule anything like that (the Broncos) out.
“Top-level sportspeople only get to dance on the field for a certain amount of time and they have to make the most of it. There is plenty of precedents of players switching between codes and the two sports have been constantly able to mix.