MARAE INVESTIGATES interview with the whanau of Quade Cooper

Sunday 2nd October 2011

Transcribed quotes below from MARAE INVESTIGATES interview with the whanau of Maori Wallaby Quade Cooper
Reporter Carmen Parahi

Story screened on TV ONE this morning and can be watched again at tvnzondemand
http://tvnz.co.nz/marae-investigates/s2012-e6-video-4428059

Backgrounder:
Quade Cooper is from Ngapuhi and Ngai Te Rangi but is the most maligned and talked about New Zealander not playing for the All Blacks.
He’s booed every time he touches the ball and there’s two Facebook pages with thousands of members who hate him.
Carmen Parahi discovered behind the man is a humble whanau trying to cope with the rugby star’s fame.

Background:
Quade’s step father, David Jones and his mother, Ruhia got together back in NZ when Quade was young.
They married and added four children to the whanau before leaving Tokoroa and moving across the ditch to Brisbane 8 years ago.
(Children: Shavarn, Quade, Georgie, Pania, Reuben and Moses)
Marae Investigates Reporter, Carmen Parahi joined David and Ruhia Jones at their home in Brisbane as they watched their son Quade play for the Wallabies against the USA in Australia ’s third game in the RWC.


QUOTES FROM STORY FILMED AT THE COOPER HOME IN BRISBANE

Carmen:
So what do you think when you hear commentators make comment about Quade?
Ruhia:
“I just think shut-up (laughs) inside just watch it nervously I don’t like it because I think they’re singling him out”.

Quade’s younger brothers, 11-year old Reuben and 9-year old Moses on divided loyalties.
Carmen:
So how do you cope being an ABs fan when your brother plays for the Wallabies?
Reuben:
“Quite easy. Just don’t like Richie McCaw.
Carmen:
You don’t like Richie McCaw?
Reuben:
“The ABs play dirty but they’ve got a good team”.

Quade’s teenage sisters Georgie and Pania on him being vilified in NZ.
Georgie & Pania:
They shouldn’t diss players because everyone does bad things on the field it’s just stupid. They’re just jealous they can’t all be as good as him.

On how Quade got to be so good at rugby.
David:
To me it was always like a kid who felt he had to prove something not in a bad way but like he had talent you know and he was always a bit smaller, lighter he’d be the lightest kids in the teams he played for but he had the skills I think he just felt like it was a challenge for him to keep up with the bigger kids and I think he thrives on it you know


On Quade’s arrest for burglary, alleged brawling and media interest in him.
David:
He’s grown up a lot in the last few years he’s had his ups and downs as a lot of people know I think I look at some of those things they were pretty hard for us to cope with but it’s been the making of him you have a choice when you get to that cross roads what are you going to do?
Ruhia:
He’s a good boy I’m proud of who he is as a man
Carmen:
So you must get upset about what’s coming out of NZ about Quade?
David:
You can have your say that’s fine but we know who he really is we’ve all made mistakes it’s just that ours aren’t aired on TV

On Quade’s relationship with Aussie Swimmer Stephanie Rice
Ruhia:
Yeah I like her a lot she’s really down to earth and she likes Quadey (laughs) so that means a lot to me I don’t think that he’d be that particularly easy to live with but she puts up with him

On Quade being managed by Kodah Nasser
Ruhia:
I just said to Quade I trust his judgement he’s an adult now I knew he’d make his decision regardless but I always have my say and then let Quade choose and I think that’s my right as his mum to have my say and he can take it or leave it
Carmen:
Sonny Bill Williams is now a Muslim. Do you think Quade would become a Muslim?
Ruhia:
Nah. Or you would have strong say on that. Definitely will yeah I mean we’re Born Again Christians we’ve brought them up that way.
Carmen:
Would you liked to have seen Quade as an All Black?
Ruhia:
Oh yeah we have to be honest yeah. Because that was his initial dream. I remember when he got to his teens he said I don’t care anymore I’ll even play for Australia I just want to be in the World Cup I just want to play rugby. I thought oh he’s getting desperate (laughs)
Carmen:
Would you like to see Quade play for the NZ Maori team?
Ruhia:
Yes definitely we’d love to yup I’ve thought about it quite a bit nothing better than seeing him do the haka with those boys it’d be awesome
Carmen:
You like to see him be a role model for others wouldn’t you?
Ruhia:
It really does matter to me that he influences Maori boys as well that is really important for me because for years young Maori boys in NZ they do it tough at times and how good is it to see your own people doing well I love to see anybody doing well but when its your own people its really special as well

Ends

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