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| Cooper eyes Origin | |
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| Topic Started: May 14 2010, 10:37 AM (143 Views) | |
| stacey | May 14 2010, 10:37 AM Post #1 |
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John Greco Sportal  Photograph Copyright : Getty Images He's the experienced old stager up against a host of young up-and-coming stars but Dragons centre Matt Cooper has urged NSW selectors not to forgot about him when they sit down on Monday to pick the team for Origin I. Cooper did his chances of adding to his 11 NSW appearances no harm with a strong display in the Dragons' comprehensive 19-6 win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, scoring a decisive try and producing a trademark solid defensive effort. With Australian representative Jamie Lyon almost certain to have one centre position sewn up, Cooper is locked in a battle with Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Michael Jennings and Timana Tahu for the other spot on the left-hand side. After only an average 2009, the 31-year-old has returned to some of his best form over the opening three months of the season. Cooper got the better of the Bulldogs duo Morris and Idris on Friday night and selectors may opt for his experience as the Blues aim to end Queensland's dominance over the last four years. And while admitting he wasn't expecting to hear his name read out by selectors, Cooper said he was desperate for a call-up after losing his spot in 2009. "I missed last year, that hurt, especially being part of three losing series prior to that, seeing the boys get beat last year was a bad feeling," he said. "There's talk about me being there - as long as I'm playing good footy I've got a shot." "NSW are looking pretty good in the centres and we've got some young talent." "To knock a couple of them out of the Origin series this year would really give me a buzz." "Come Monday afternoon it's going to be pretty exciting - hopefully I make it, I'd love to be out there." Dragons coach Wayne Bennett said his star No.4 wouldn't let anyone down if given a spot in the Blues side. "He's been playing great football," Bennett said of Cooper. "The try he scored was the Matt Cooper we haven't seen for a long time." "He was involved in the game and that's the key thing for him." Not surprisingly on the other side, Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore also talked up his centres, although he urged caution about rushing 19-year-old Idris into the Origin cauldron. "His form's been really good over the last 4-6 weeks - I'm of the belief that if he gets an opportunity he won't let people down," Moore said of the teenager. "As his club coach I would probably think 12 months down the track he'll be really ready for it." "You have to keep in mind Josh Morris too, he's the incumbent centre and came in and they won the final game (last year)." While the race for Origin spots was a worthy subplot to the match, the Dragons showed they would be a real contender for the title after they had to withstand an early onslaught from the home side to secure the 13-point win. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and had enough field position and possession to extend their advantage but the Dragons held strong and soaked up the pressure and it proved pivotal in deciding the match. "They were playing all over us early, we had to claw our way back and we did that," Bennett said when asked the most pleasing aspect of the win. "We didn't panic, we stayed at what works for us. We knew sooner or later it was going to turn for us and it did." Moore was left to lament a lack of execution from his side, which has now lost six games in the first 10 rounds, the same number it lost all of last season. "We created enough, had a couple of dead-set chances we should have taken," the Bulldogs coach said. "They probably had three or four chances and took three of them, that's what the game came down to." Canterbury skipper Andrew Ryan added: "We just need to keep working hard." "It will turn around for us." http://sportal.co.nz/league-news-display/cooper-eyes-origin-91306/page/2 |
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