RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
English prop Mike Cooper isn't interested in standing in the shadow of his countrymen who have conquered the NRL.
He wants to write his own story.
Sam Burgess made sure he won a premiership before leaving to play rugby union in his homeland.
He famously played through last year's grand final with a busted cheekbone to lead South Sydney to success.
James Graham played in the losing side in 2014 and is doing his best to go one better before leaving the Bulldogs and the country.
Cooper, on the other hand, is happy just being a part of St George Illawarra's starting line-up.
He came to Wollongong ahead of the 2014 season and was largely unheralded as a player.
He went on to play 23 of a possible 24 games for the club in his debut season, and has now earned himself a spot alongside Leeson Ah Mau in the Dragons front row.
Cooper's form has gained him a two-year contract extension, which will see him tied to the club until the end of 2017.
When asked if he wants to replicate the feats of Burgess and Graham, Cooper's reply is blunt.
"I don't want to compare myself to anyone, I'll let other people do that," he said. "There hasn't been many [Englishmen] over the years that have come out and been here for five or six years.
"I want to be a part of that list, hopefully win a premiership with the Dragons, and then play myself into that England team."
Cooper has blossomed since landing in Australia and says the potential for forwards to make their mark is what draws them to the competition.
"What helps the English forwards coming here is there's a lot more ball playing as a forward," Cooper said.
"At the Dragons we like to play like that, and that suits me as well.
"That's one of the big pluses for the English forwards, they like to throw the ball around, and if they come to a team in the NRL that promotes that then they are going to fit in pretty well."
Cooper said he made the decision to remain in Wollongong several weeks ago, but only put pen to paper last Thursday.
With his immediate future in the NRL now secured, he is keen to lead the Dragons into the next three years, and hopefully claim that coveted premiership ring.