Rugby Union player Quade Cooper has been nominated for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame after embracing the modern trend which requires young people to supply their own technological devices.
The former Wallaby was once accused of attempting to steal laptops, and embroiled himself in controversy with a number of inappropriate tweets.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL player Manase Fainu is the most recent recipient.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Julian O’Neill.
Cooper received his first Frownlow nomination after being accused of burglary in 2009. It was alleged that he had attempted to steal two laptops from a property. The matter was settled out of court once Cooper explained his actions.
“They told me I had to bring my own laptop. I didn’t know what to do because the team normally gives me everything. They give me my uniform, they gave me an apartment and a car. My sponsor gives me my footy boots, but then they said I had to bring my own laptop,” he explained.
“They also said we’d be using the laptops online and offline, so I thought I had to get two.”
Cooper also explained that it was only after his arrest that someone from the club informed him that laptop computers are available for purchase in stores and online.
The Queensland Reds player strengthened his Frownlow nomination after he failed to understand the lectures in which he was taught how to use the technology he had acquired.
He once sent out tweets criticising the atmosphere of the Wallabies training camp and questioning the merits of coach Robbie Dean, and was subsequently fined $60,000 and suspended for three games.
The polarising playmaker then tapped out another controversial tweet attacking New Zealand journalist Chris Rattue.
Cooper has been cordially invited to manage the livestreaming and social media feed for the grand awards night of The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame, to be held later this year.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 