Queensland Reds won't defend their Super Rugby crown without Quade Cooper: Rod Kafer

That was the brutal assessment from one of rugby's top minds yesterday as the Reds confidently installed Kiwi Mike Harris to prove the rating wrong.

Image: Cooper ... The Reds will do it tough as the star rehabs a repaired knee. Source: Dan Peled / AAP

Former Wallaby Rod Kafer, now Fox Sport's top rugby analyst, is adamant the Reds are underplaying how much they will miss Cooper's scheming in Saturday night's interstate stoush against NSW Waratahs in Sydney.

"Had they not had Quade in 2011, would the Reds have won? No," Kafer said.

"Think of all the times the Reds were going to lose or were under massive pressure, more times than not it was Quade who got them out of trouble.

"Absolutely it's going to hurt the package significantly with him out injured for the first seven or so games. The Brumbies side that finished second in 1997 managed only 10th a year later because Steve Larkham was injured.

"The Reds will still be a very good side but it might give the Waratahs the jump to win the Australian Conference.

"That would demand the Reds win a playoff in New Zealand or South Africa and I just don't think they would then be able to go back-to-back."

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is looking into a different crystal ball and believes Harris, his poise, his 96kg frame at flyhalf and unerring goalkicking will leave a telling mark on NSW and the Super Rugby season.

"He'll do it his way. He's going to bring other skills to the table," McKenzie said of Cooper's replacement.

While Cooper memorably sunk the Western Force and Crusaders with cool, late kicks in 2011, he operated at 68 per cent with the boot overall.

Harris, 23, has a sniper's deadly radar and a 23-from-24 goalkicking record, in trials and matches, since joining the Reds last year when McKenzie swooped on a talent snubbed by Kiwi Super Rugby sides.

His background with New Zealand's North Harbour gives Harris an inkling of the intense, tight and in-your-face nature of local derbys like the annual spat with the Waratahs.

"Over in NZ, it was Auckland-North Harbour, the Battle of the Bridge. Here, Queensland-NSW is massive and I'm sure a lot of blood will be spilt," Harris said.

"I can't wait to be out there."

Harris, who beat Ben Lucas for the No.10 job, feels under no pressure to produce a flick pass or a hop-step like Cooper.

"I'm certainly not going to play like Quade Cooper. I'm going to play like Mike Harris," he said.

Cooper, in Sydney yesterday for a sponsorship launch, gave another glimpse of his progress for an April comeback with restrained kicking with his repairing right leg.

He disputes Kafer's stance and is backing the Reds' depth and quality.

"Winning one title was great but that's not enough. You want to be a champion club," Cooper said.

"This year is a massive opportunity to go back-to-back."

By Jim Tucker The Courier-Mail

How do you think the Reds will fare without Cooper?

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