Cooper
Re-signs with Dragons for Two Years

Kangaroo centre Matt Cooper has today agreed to terms with the club for two years until the end of the 2008 season.

Cooper is the second of the club?s off-contract players to make a formal commitment to the St George Illawarra Dragons for the next few seasons following the announcement of Dean Young (2009) last week.

The Shellharbour junior has played 99 first grade games with the Dragons since his NRL debut in Round 1 of the 2000 NRL season and is looking forward to not only his 100 game milestone but many more with the Dragons over the coming years.

?The Dragons is a great Club and I am very happy to be staying,? said Cooper.

?I am a local junior and have always been given great opportunities here.

?We have a great group of players here that I enjoy playing with, a group that I want to continue to
be a part of.

?Aside from the football, I like the area and all my family and friends are here?.

Cooper, 26, has played four NSW Origin Games and six Tests for his country and is hoping there is more representative football ahead.

?I will certainly be hoping to play representative football again this year, but I will be concentrating on the Dragons and my performances each week,? said Cooper. ?Representative honours are a reward for consistently good performances?.

Dragons Chief Executive Officer Peter Doust said he was pleased to finalise Cooper?s arrangements with the club.

?Matt is a significant contributor to our organisation and key component of our team moving forward,? said Doust.

?I am very pleased that he has chosen to stay with our Club and I am sure our fans will be too.

?I also need to compliment both Matt and Dean and their management companies on their understanding of what the Dragons stand for,? added Doust.

?Both have agreed to stay with our club for less than what they would no doubt have attracted on the open market?.