Rugby league great Scott Sattler has condemned former Dragons star Matt Cooper over his inflammatory comments about St George Illawarra, saying he’s “disappointed” and telling him to “get over it”.
Cooper, who’s made it clear in recent years that he had a falling-out with the Dragons, last week caused another stir when he snubbed the 2010 premiership reunion and dropped a spicy post on Twitter.
Cooper said he “didn’t want to make a scene and ruin a special occasion”, while suggesting he was irritated that “(a) former CEO and a player who did not even play in the game were going to be there”.
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The former New South Wales Blues and Kangaroos centre then revealed to Wide World of Sports that his anger was over a job offer that never eventuated, while declaring he would spill on the feud in due time.
“I want to wait until next season and the footy shows are back on TV to reach a maximum audience,” Cooper told Wide World of Sports’ The Mole.
Sattler, a member of the Panthers side that won the 2003 grand final, panned Cooper on SEN radio on Tuesday.
“Matty Cooper’s been very critical of his former club,” Sattler said.
“(He’s played) 250 games for the club, (he’s) one of the great players, mind you.
“To go on Twitter and explain to the fans why he didn’t go to their 10-year reunion … it’s baffling why he tried to bring the attention onto him like that.
“I’m a little bit disappointed, to be quite honest. The reasons (for Cooper not attending) … he said a former CEO is going to be there and a player who didn’t even play in the game (2010 grand final) was going to be there.
“If there’s a player that’s a part of the first-grade squad, that was a part of a squad that wins the comp in 2010, for example, even if they play one second or one minute of that year, they should be invited to reunions.”
Cooper played 243 games for the Dragons between 2001 and 2013.
For the bulk of his NRL career he was one of two gun centres for the club, along with Mark Gasnier — another former Blues and Kangaroos star.
“We have a get-together every year, the 2003 (Panthers) side,” Sattler added.
“We invite every player that played one second that year, and so they should (be invited).
“So, for Matty Cooper, I would like to say we’ve all been there upon retirement or getting close to the end of our careers where we possibly get promised something and it doesn’t come to fruition.
“You’ve just got to get over it and we have to stop trying to destabilise a club you served so proudly, try and come up with solutions on how you can be successful again.
“Going on Twitter and slandering the club again — I don’t think that’s the right way forward.”
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