Special guest reporter Billy Slater introduces Queensland Maroon #185 - Gavin Cooper.
After a busy week of family milestones and the birth of his second son, North Queensland Cowboys Gavin Cooper joins his fellow Queensland team-mates at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort in preparation for his first ever Origin game.
Origins of XXXX Maroons player #185
Gavin Cooper played his junior football for the Murgon Mustangs, just west of Gympie, moving into the Redcliffe Dolphins system in his late teens. He won a premiership with the Redcliffe Dolphins in the FOGS Colts Challenge in 2003. He made the step up to play for the Dolphins Queensland Cup side in 2004 and represented Queensland at under-19 level.
He signed with the Cowboys in 2005, the same years as Jonathan Thurston, and made his debut for the club the following year. After stints with the Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers, Cooper returned to North Queensland in 2010 and has been a consistent performer for the club ever since. In 2014, Cooper captained the Cowboys to an Auckland Nines win, but injury later in the year ruled him out of Origin contention. Since then, Cooper’s consistent form has seen him work his way back into the Origin frame.
In February this year Cooper was a member of the Cowboys' World Club Challenge-winning side, and was named as 18th man in this year's Game I team. He will debut for the Maroons in the final game of this year’s series.
Gavin Cooper will be XXXX Queensland Maroons player #185.
