Wigan prop Mike Cooper has vowed to return from his horror injury - but has already stitched things up for when retirement does eventually occur.
There had been fears the England forward might not play again after he suffered multiple knee ligaments damage on Good Friday. Cooper faces up to 12 months out and turns 35 in September. But he insisted: “I am going to return to the field.
“I don’t see any reason why I can’t and I’ve actually been very lucky throughout my career. I’ve not really missed more than two or three games at a time and only had little injuries. This is a bad one. I’m due for surgery in about three weeks and it will be a long process. But it’s part and parcel of the job.”
And the ex-Warrington ace does have another job to turn to while he’s recovering. He helped set up Bubble Customised Clothing from scratch a few years ago. And now the embroidery company is working with brands as big as Walt Disney and O2.
Cooper hopes to offer advice to other rugby league players who are looking to prepare for the future. He said: “Rugby league does a lot of good. And it has taught me a hell of a lot. What I have learned in the game is very transferable into life and business. I’ve said to so many players who have asked me that all the principles you take from how you become a professional sportsperson apply to life and business.
"It’s about the detail, work ethic, looking for opportunities and not being afraid to go for them. If you take most rugby league players and said ‘do you want to start a business?’ they’d say they wouldn’t know where to start. Sometimes they are too afraid to ask. Hopefully I can help.”
Meanwhile, England team-mate Morgan Knowles has contacted him about the illegal challenge he made which led to Cooper's wrecked knee. The St Helens loose forward, who played in the World Cup with Cooper last year, is serving a five-game ban for the hip-drop tackle. But Cooper maintained: “There’s absolutely no issue with me and Morgan whatsoever. It happens. He sent me a message afterwards and it’s just one of those things isn’t it? It’s the game we play.
“I class him as a mate and I don’t think anything different to him now. He got suspended for the hip-drop and we moved on. I’m sure I've been involved in tackles where people have been hurt. It’s just the way it is. I’m not that type of person.”
Cooper is out of contract at the end of the season but said: “Wigan have an option for next year which we’re talking about now. I’m hoping to return. And hopefully it’ll be at Wigan. I’m pretty confident it will be.”
