Mike COOPER [
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Thu August 27, 2009
by engage Super League
Source: www.superleague.co.ukWarrington Wolves prop Mike Cooper will complete his comeback from a life-threatening injury by achieving a lifetime's ambition.
The 20-year-old is set to play for the Wolves in Saturday's Carnegie Challenge Cup final against Huddersfield Giants but a Wembley date was a distant prospect as he lay in intensive care.
After breaking his tibia and fibula in an under-18s game in 2007, Cooper suffered a blood clot during surgery and spent a fortnight in a hospital ward fighting for his life.
"It was pretty serious, as serious as it could have got," he said. "I was asleep for the two weeks so it was harder for everybody else.
"I had lots of support from family and friends, that's probably why I'm here today. It was a dark time but it's behind me now."
Among the family holding a bedside vigil was the then Warrington head coach Paul Cullen, who is Cooper's uncle and has naturally been a big influence on the youngster's career.
The departure of Cullen in May 2008, following a series of poor results, hit Cooper hard but he was encouraged by his mentor to stay loyal to his hometown club.
"I was very disappointed with the way it was handled," said the young forward. "A minority of fans were a bit out of order.
"I felt pretty sorry for Cull. He left at the wrong time. The team were always going to come good and eventually get to a final. It's unfortunate he isn't here at the same time.
"But, after the initial shock of him going, next day it was business as usual.
"I had a job to do and Cull said 'get on with the job, it's a business and people are going to come and go'. He's always supported me in everything I've done."
Cooper was given his debut by Cullen in a Challenge Cup tie against London Skolars in 2006 at the age of 17 but made just four substitute appearances in Super League the following season due to his injury scare.
"I had a year of rehab, mentally and physically trying to get myself in shape," he recalled.
Ironically, Cooper got his chance to break into Tony Smith's team thanks to injuries to Paul Rauhihi and Paul Wood, who misses the cup final with a broken leg, and, after appearing in all but one of Warrington's last 11 matches, looks sure to line up against the Giants.
"I've been hanging around the team for a while now and got the opportunity to play because of a few injuries," he said. "I'm happy to be part of the team. I've not been told definitely but I've got a good idea I'll be playing on Saturday.
"I'd been in and out of the team for a while and I just wanted to prove that, if I got a run in the team, I could keep my place."
Cooper's role at Wembley will be to provide relief for starting front rowers Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell, who have been two of the form props in the engage Super League this year.
"I have to pinch myself at times," added Cooper. "I'm very fortunate to play with these type of people. I don't think you could have two better props at the moment to set the standards."
Skipper Morley has been impressed by the emergence of the strong-running Cooper and is tipping him to have a big future in the game.
"He's always had the potential and in the last six or seven weeks he really has come of age," said Morley.
"He's still improving so it's scary to think where he can actually get to. He's going very well and we're pleased for him."
Sat July 4, 2009
Source: www.warringtonwolves.comLee Briers, Vinnie Anderson and Mike Cooper have all agreed one year contract extensions keeping them at the club for the 2010 season.
Lee Briers is set for his 14th season at the Wolves having signed as a teenager in 1997. Briers is well-known for his world class kicking ability and game-changing drop goals. He is an impact player within the Wolves set-up, and no-one will need reminding about the Challenge Cup Quarter Final 'historic golden point' at Craven Park, that has kept this year's Wembley hopes alive for fans.
Kiwi Vinnie Anderson will continue playing alongside his brother Louis at the club next season. Vinnie has been described as a naturally talented Rugby League player. With six tries to his name already this season he continues to make a lasting impression on the club.
Adding youth to the side for 2010 is Mike Cooper, one of the club's local born players who has progressed through the youth system and is now making his mark in the first team. The Club prides itself on developing its home-grown talent, with the aid of the fan-assisted Squadbuilder scheme. Cooper is a tough and physical prop and is part of the next generation of local talent at the Wolves.
Wolves boss Tony Smith said: "Lee and I have a good working relationship and we understand what we require from one another. We work happily together and have formed a good partnership so far. Lee is certainly one of the brightest Rugby League talents in the game and I look forward to continuing to work with him next season and helping him progress even further.
"Vinnie also brings a wealth of experience to the team having had success in both the international and domestic game. He is able to give the young players an insight into this, stepping up into some areas of leadership, making Vinnie an important part of the team both on and off the field.
"For a young guy Mike has been around the first team for quite a long time. He continues to improve and is set to establish himself as a regular first team player of the future. I am delighted that he is from Warrington and I look forward to helping this local talent to progress in his game."
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 2011 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
18 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Feb 11] L 18-28 v Huddersfield. [BE]
[View] Round 8 [03 Apr 11] L 20-22 v Catalans (H). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [08 Apr 11] L 10-29 v Huddersfield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [15 Apr 11] W 64-6 v Crusaders (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [22 Apr 11] W 60-0 v Salford City (A). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [01 May 11] W 58-14 v Bradford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [13 May 11] W 62-0 v Castleford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [27 May 11] W 42-6 v Leeds (A). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [03 Jun 11] W 56-16 v Crusaders (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [12 Jun 11] L 16-18 v Salford City (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [19 Jun 11] W 46-16 v Hull KR (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [01 Jul 11] W 48-18 v Castleford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [08 Jul 11] W 28-16 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [31 Jul 11] W 64-6 v Bradford (H). [LK]
[View] Round 24 [14 Aug 11] W 66-12 v Wakefield (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [20 Aug 11] W 25-12 v Catalans (A). [SR]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 11] W 39-12 v Wigan (H). [SR]
[View] Round 27 [09 Sep 11] W 34-12 v Hull FC (A). [PR]
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2010 engage English Super League
Castleford Tigers
6 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 6 [13 Mar 10] W 20-16 v Les Catalans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [21 Mar 10] L 22-36 v Wigan (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [26 Mar 10] W 22-16 v Crusaders (H). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [02 Apr 10] L 6-19 v Wakefield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [05 Apr 10] L 18-52 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [09 Apr 10] L 0-24 v Huddersfield (A). [SR]
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2010 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
11 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 12 [25 Apr 10] W 40-6 v Les Catalans (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 13 - Magic Weekend [01 May 10] W 68-16 v Salford City. [BE]
[View] Round 14 [14 May 10] L 16-26 v Leeds (A). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [04 Jun 10] W 27-10 v Salford City (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [11 Jun 10] W 35-16 v Hull KR (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [19 Jun 10] W 40-28 v Bradford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [11 Jul 10] W 54-30 v Castleford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [24 Jul 10] L 28-29 v Catalans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [15 Aug 10] W 36-18 v Wakefield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [20 Aug 10] W 36-18 v Hull FC (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 10] L 12-28 v St Helens (A). [BE]
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2009 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
14 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 6 [22 Mar 09] W 24-12 v Hull KR (H). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [29 Mar 09] W 27-22 v Celtic (H). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [17 Apr 09] W 58-22 v Bradford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [03 May 09] L 28-36 v Hull KR. [BE]
[View] Round 16 [14 Jun 09] L 10-21 v Bradford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [04 Jul 09] W 22-6 v Celtic (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [11 Jul 09] L 26-40 v St Helens (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [19 Jul 09] L 10-28 v Huddersfield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [26 Jul 09] W 62-20 v Salford City (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [01 Aug 09] L 22-24 v Leeds (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [14 Aug 09] L 16-36 v Wigan (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [21 Aug 09] L 28-40 v Wakefield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [05 Sep 09] L 16-40 v Hull KR (A). [BE]
[View] Round 27 [13 Sep 09] W 44-34 v Harlequins (H). [BE]
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2008 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
10 games; [View] Round 19 [29 Jun 08] W 24-22 v Hull FC (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [06 Jul 08] W 60-24 v Wakefield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [11 Jul 08] W 32-28 v Bradford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [19 Jul 08] W 19-18 v Huddersfield (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [02 Aug 08] W 22-12 v Leeds (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [09 Aug 08] L 16-17 v St Helens (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [17 Aug 08] L 34-36 v Hull KR (H). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [24 Aug 08] L 24-44 v Castleford (A). [BE]
[View] Round 27 [06 Sep 08] L 20-38 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [13 Sep 08] L 8-46 v Catalans (A). [BE]
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2007 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
4 games; [View] Round 8 [06 Apr 07] W 34-32 v Salford City (A). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [09 Apr 07] L 18-26 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [15 Apr 07] L 10-52 v Leeds (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [21 Apr 07] L 16-27 v Les Catalans (A). [BE]
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2006 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
3 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 19 [02 Jul 06] L 26-52 v Castleford (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [09 Jul 06] W 30-26 v Huddersfield (H). [BE]
[View] Round 28 [17 Sep 06] L 30-38 v St Helens (H). [BE]
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Cooper, Mike
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