Cooper's skill to speak

Outspoken playmaker Quade Cooper wants to improve the odds of a Wallabies recall by letting his skills do the talking on the field.


Cooper is back in the mix for the national team, ending six months of strained negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union by signing a two-year deal, worth AU$750,000 a season.


Sealing an ARU deal was difficult, especially with Cooper preparing for a February 8 professional boxing debut and receiving a French offer that would have made him one of the world's highest-paid players.


The Queensland playmaker's days under Deans appeared numbered when he described the Wallabies' culture as "toxic", resulting in a AU$40,000 fine and a downgraded ARU offer that was later renegotiated.


However, Cooper said regaining top form - not offering an olive branch to Deans - was his priority.


Asked by the Sydney Morning Herald how he could improve relations with Deans, Cooper said: "It is not something I have to go out and improve.


"I have a job to do. His job is to … get the best out of the team. Hopefully, the better I play for Queensland, the more opportunities I get there [Wallabies]."


* Are these the skills that will get Cooper back in the Wallaby team?