Dragon Mike Cooper confident ahead of Melbourne clash
By MITCH JENNINGS
March 3, 2015, 9 p.m.
Dragons prop Mike Cooper is confident he won’t be off the pace against Melbourne on Monday night despite being without a proper game since September last year.
The big Englishman has been named on a six-man extended bench for the season opener against the Storm.
Cooper turned out for the Dragons in the shortened Auckland Nines format in January and was named to start in the Dragons annual Charity Shield clash a month ago but had a far more pressing engagement with partner Katie giving birth to son George the night before the match.
‘‘He came seven weeks early which was a bit of a surprise but they’re both fine,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘He was in hospital for three weeks but we got him home on Friday so the sleepless nights have started.’’
The birth meant he also missed the Dragons World Club Series match with his former club Warrington last week leaving him without a game since the Dragons round 26 loss to Newcastle on September 7 last year.
Cooper admits the build-up has not been ideal but, on a personal high after becoming a father for the first time, he’s confident he’s fit for the Dragons season opener.
‘‘I’ve not played a first team trial yet but that’s out of my hands – there was nothing I could do about it,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘It would have been nice to get a couple of trials especially the Charity Shield and the Warrington games, which are pretty big games, but these things happen.
‘‘It is what it is, I can’t get those games back. I’ve worked hard on my fitness and hopefully I’ve proven myself that I’m not too far off the pace. Pre-season is a long flog especially for the lads who have been in since October-November so this game can’t come around quick enough.’’
The Dragons were dealt a blow this week with star forward Trent Merrin announcing he’ll leave the club at season’s end to take up a lucrative three-year deal with the Panthers.
Players making deals with other clubs with more than a year to run on their contract never sits well with fans but Cooper said the players had no reason to doubt Merrin’s commitment to the Dragons’ 2015 campaign.
http://ift.tt/1ABcfBD
By MITCH JENNINGS
March 3, 2015, 9 p.m.
Dragons prop Mike Cooper is confident he won’t be off the pace against Melbourne on Monday night despite being without a proper game since September last year.
The big Englishman has been named on a six-man extended bench for the season opener against the Storm.
Cooper turned out for the Dragons in the shortened Auckland Nines format in January and was named to start in the Dragons annual Charity Shield clash a month ago but had a far more pressing engagement with partner Katie giving birth to son George the night before the match.
‘‘He came seven weeks early which was a bit of a surprise but they’re both fine,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘He was in hospital for three weeks but we got him home on Friday so the sleepless nights have started.’’
The birth meant he also missed the Dragons World Club Series match with his former club Warrington last week leaving him without a game since the Dragons round 26 loss to Newcastle on September 7 last year.
Cooper admits the build-up has not been ideal but, on a personal high after becoming a father for the first time, he’s confident he’s fit for the Dragons season opener.
‘‘I’ve not played a first team trial yet but that’s out of my hands – there was nothing I could do about it,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘It would have been nice to get a couple of trials especially the Charity Shield and the Warrington games, which are pretty big games, but these things happen.
‘‘It is what it is, I can’t get those games back. I’ve worked hard on my fitness and hopefully I’ve proven myself that I’m not too far off the pace. Pre-season is a long flog especially for the lads who have been in since October-November so this game can’t come around quick enough.’’
The Dragons were dealt a blow this week with star forward Trent Merrin announcing he’ll leave the club at season’s end to take up a lucrative three-year deal with the Panthers.
Players making deals with other clubs with more than a year to run on their contract never sits well with fans but Cooper said the players had no reason to doubt Merrin’s commitment to the Dragons’ 2015 campaign.
http://ift.tt/1ABcfBD
Dragon Mike Cooper confident ahead of Melbourne clash
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire