Australia's Quade Cooper in action. Photo / Richard Robinson
Quade Cooper's long stint defending at fullback has ended with the Queensland Reds sending the Wallabies playmaker back to the front line of battle this season.
Cooper has been a staple in the last line of defence for the Reds over the past four seasons but new coach Richard Graham
is keen to play a traditional, dynamic fullback in his backline.
Injury-plagued Aidan Toua and Waratahs recruit Lachie Turner, both blistering attacking players, will get first cracks at winning Queensland's No15 jersey when they play the defending champion Chiefs in Toowoomba on Saturday night.
Graham wants more try-scoring potency in his backline after a dour 2013, where the Reds managed fewer than two tries a game, and Turner or Toua would deliver extra pace and another line-breaking threat.
The likes of converted half Ben Lucas or hard-nosed centres Mike Harris and Jono Lance have started at fullback in past seasons but moved into the front line in defence for Cooper to manage the kick-returns and be shielded from tackling big ball-runners.
