Wests legend Bob Cooper in brave battle with cancer
2 min read
One of the toughest and most controversial rugby league players of all time is fighting a brave battle against an aggressive cancer.
Western Suburbs legend Bob Cooper, who holds the record for the longest suspension in the game’s history, is in hospital in Sydney being treated by specialists.
Cooper, now aged 67, was the main subject of conversation at the annual Wests Magpies reunion last Friday, with team-mates sending him messages of encouragement and goodwill.
READ MORE: ‘Define a generation’: Socceroos make history
READ MORE: Socceroos stun Denmark to reach knockout stage
READ MORE: Incredible moment Aussie fans celebrated Socceroos win
The tall second-rower played 76 games for the Magpies from 1977 to 1982 and also played in the inaugural State of Origin game in 1980.
But he will forever be remembered for one infamous afternoon at Wollongong Showground in 1982 when Wests met Illawarra.
In a fiery brawl, Cooper threw just three punches – but each had a telling effect.
The first broke a Steeler’s jaw, the second smashed a nose and cheekbone, and the third left an opponent heavily concussed on the ground.
The old NSW Rugby League was determined to clean up what was a brutal game at the time and put a former judge, Jim Comans, in charge of the judiciary.
Comans decided to make an example out of Cooper, suspending him for a mammoth 15 months.
« Acts such as these must be obliterated from the game, and I’ll begin by obliterating you, » Comans told Cooper at the time.
Cooper played Australian Rules football during his lengthy suspension and then attempted a brief comeback with North Sydney when he was finally cleared to play again in 1984.
But he was never the same player and after just four games, he dislocated his shoulder and retired.
« Bob is a true Wests legend and all the boys were saddened to hear of his condition at the reunion, » said former Wests halfback Josh White, one of the organisers of the Magpies Old Boys.
« He is a fighter and we are all behind him. »
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
