The headlines have been dominated in recent weeks with the potential code switch of Quade Cooper, who has allegedly been courted by the Parramatta Eels, yet last weekend it was another ‘Cooper’ who should have hogged the headlines.
In a remarkable match in the NRL, new Rebels recruit Cooper Vuna played his part in an astonishing game of rugby league, where he played his part in a miraculous comeback, when the Newcastle Knights came back from 6-12 down in the first half to thump the Brisbane Broncos 44-18.
Vuna scored four tries, equaling a record not matched for nine years at Newcastle, and entered the history books alongside three players to have scored a quartet for the club, with Darren Albert (2000), Andrew Johns (2001) and Adam MacDougall (2001) the others who have completed such an act.
The new Rebels’ recruit has become a crowd pleaser of late, something that the Melbourne fans will have to look forward to, with his post try celebrations something that had the 16,000 present at the weekend’s league match in thunderous applause.
Vuna has lived in the shadows of his other Knights wing Akuila Uate, who has scored 21 tries, but the new rugby convert has scored 14 himself now, and he loves to play up to an audience.
“I love to get the crowd involved, I think they're the backbone of me,” he said to the Sydney Morning Herald.
With this late form coming to life, it seems that a recruitment play that was seen by some as a audacious punt by the Rebels and coach Rod Macqueen is now emerging as calculated genius.
Vuna joins Luke Rooney as the other Rebels former league back, but while the former Panther has spent time at Toulon and now is based with Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand’s ITM Cup, the outgoing Knight has played little recent rugby at 15’s level.
The Auckland born product however did play rugby union until he was 15, playing for Otahuhu College.
But it was hardly pure rugby talent that had him representing a noted New Zealand rugby school, based in South Auckland, but rather his physical attributes and speed.
"They chucked put me out on the wing because I didn't know what I was doing," Vuna said to NZPA.
This led to him being poached to league, playing for the Auckland Lions and the New Zealand Warriors, before lack of game time led to him moving to Newcastle, where he has played over 50 matches.
He also has international experience, playing for Tonga in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
The 23 year old has ambitions to play for the Wallabies, something that coach Rod Macqueen believes is very possible.
"I don't think the Wallabies are out of reach for him, not at all. He's the sort of player who could adapt to rugby union quickly," the Rebels coach said.
Vuna, who has played most of his league at wing, personally sees himself as more of a centre, and hopes to be formed into a hard running midfielder like fellow Rebel Stirling Mortlock, who Vuna states is something of an idol.
"He's a got a lot of experience so I'll be looking to learn off him," said Vuna.
"I'd rather crash the ball up and hit the rucks than kick and chase for myself."
As for the transition back from league, Vuna said that he had already been schooled by Macqueen is the most fundamental aspect that differentiates the two codes.
"Rod's already told me not to try and play the ball," Vuna said with a laugh.