Quade Cooper enlisted to court 'Tongan Thor'

he Queensland Reds are apparently winning the race to sign Kiwi teenage rugby sensation Taniela Tupou, with controversial convert Quade Cooper enlisted to court him.

Tupou said the move to Australia would be for the betterment of his family and also because of his love for the Wallabies.

" I have always supported the Wallabies, and that makes me want to go to Australia.

''I just love the Wallabies, I don't know what it is about them."

Reds coach Richard Graham didn't shy away from his interest in Tupou.

"I have been aware of Taniela's ability since April when the Reds toured New Zealand, I think he is a phenomenal athlete and his YouTube clip in late May was a snippet of what he is capable of," Graham said.

"Like everyone, we would be interested in bringing a player of his quality into our programme."   

Go QC - you may be our star new PI and kiwi recruitment weapon... Wouldn't mind seeing this youngster running off an inside flick pass or two....

Leaguies will be sniffing around this guy too no doubt... anyone that big and fast...   

 ...How many that excel at schoolboy level actually go on to higher honours? I'm sure we were all good at that level but of course I can't speak for my friend Bean Brain.

 Funny, Redsman's usually complaining about what a great burden the Kiwis are on Arstralia despite us doing all the hard graft while they sit at the pub.... But as usual we have to prop up their sports teams if they're to have any hope of beating NZ at something...Good luck with that...

 But good on the Reds for reuniting Tupou with his family.... I'm sure QC can see that Queensland Reds need all the help they can get.... Pretty much another Sekope Kepu story so he's not the first .  And won't be the last to realise that they have a better chance of higher rep honours in Oz as the competition here in NZ is fierce.

...Incidently anyone with the name Tupou is linked to Tongan royalty. Maybe they can make something of the kid but if he's gunna be a prop he will probably have to learn a whole new skillset.

...Being so big is encouraged by a lot of island families but there is also a trade off with their health. Many suffering from heart problems , diabetes....so much weight puts a lot of strain on their internal organs and theres a lot of kidney failure ala Lomu and conditions the like...

Good luck to him chasing the big bucks - a football career can be a short one and so you have to make the  hay while the sun shines...