Australian rugby set to re-sign Quade Cooper

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HAPPY AS: Wallaby Quade Cooper (right) moves into congratulate teammate Kurtley Beale over his last minute penalty kick to win the Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Bloemfontein last year.

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Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper is expected to announce his re-signing with the Australian Rugby Union for two years, ending the Parramatta NRL club's bid for him to move codes.

It is believed during Cooper's two weeks in South Africa, he agreed to terms with the ARU, but an official announcement is not expected for several days.

ARU and Wallabies officials have worked hard to keep Cooper in the code, and yesterday morning's (NZ time) dramatic last-minute win over the Springboks helped Australian rugby's cause.

Cooper has admitted the win could influence his decision but maintains that decision can't be expected until after this weekend's final Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks in Sydney.

That could also have a bearing on his thinking because it will be Cooper's first test against New Zealand.

Asked if the euphoria of the drought-breaking win in Bloemfontein would come into his thinking, Cooper said: "It could but I'm just enjoying playing footy.

"Just getting two games in a row and one more left (against NZ), once we knock that over I'm sure I'll be able to come up with a decision and hopefully it's a good one.

"Coming up against the All Blacks for my first time is going to be great but as a group we're really looking forward to it.

"It gives you confidence when the team is going so well and the team comes out on top in such a tight performance like this."

NRL club Parramatta's chief executive Paul Osborne is resigned to Cooper staying in rugby, having not heard from the Wallabies star for a number of weeks.

Before the Australian rugby team's trip to South Africa, Cooper had been heavily linked with the Eels, who reportedly tabled an offer of around A$1.5 million for him to become the club's key playmaker next season and forego leading Australia's hopes in next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Osborne said the same money was still there despite the club announcing the signing of former representative forwards Reni Maitua and Carl Webb during the week.

"I think he'll stay in rugby I haven't heard from him for a few weeks," Osborne said.

"I always thought he'd stay in rugby."

Cooper was close to some of Australia's best and worst moments in the Bloemfontein epic, at one stage having to watch a pass from eventual hero Kurtley Beale sail over his head and roll over the dead ball line.

"You sort of think what more could go wrong and then the falcon on KB (Beale), so things were starting to build up," Cooper said.

"We had a yellow card (on Saia Faingaa), backs were against the wall but the attitude and intent that everyone showed to push through and come out the right end of it is what special teams are made of."

- © Fairfax NZ News