After the Dragons won the NRL minor premiership, RALPH caught up with NSW State of Origin and former Kangaroos star Matt Cooper to talk footy and fashion.
Tell us a bit about your clothing store in Wollongong.
It's called Moose and I. It's got men's and women's fashion. The men's side is a bit casual, like T-shirts, a few dress shirts, jeans and shorts. It's owned by my wife and I, and my sister-in-law.
Is Moose and I better than Lowes? Heaps of league players seem to favour their products.
I know. I was on
The Footy Show recently and I was wearing a nice checkered shirt. Fatty [host Paul Vautin] and the other co-hosts were like, "You've got a shop down in Wollongong but what's the go — looks like you're still shopping at Lowes?" It was actually a pretty stylish shirt. They were just geeing me up, the bastards.
As a fashion guru, do you reckon it's appropriate to wear one of those tuxedo T-shirts on a date?
Depends what kind of bloke you are. If you're a funny sort of bloke and that's what you do and that's how you impress chicks, I don't see it being a problem. Also depends on if you want a second date. Personally, I wouldn't wear it.
Who's your most stylish teammate?
Dean Young — all he wears is G-Star and Zanerobe. We'll finish training and get changed, and he'll have his best gear on just to drive home. Another bloke, Dan Hunt, thinks he looks the goods but when he walks out, everyone's like, "What is he wearing?"
What's been your biggest fashion blunder?
Mate, when I was younger, I used to wear the mad baggy overalls. But I didn't wear them over my shoulder — I'd walk into discos with the back hanging down. I'd also be wearing a belt, a skivvy and a flanno over the top with all the buttons done up. I looked like a Mexican gangster.
Mr OG, you've been voted Sexiest Man in League twice. Do you ever worry about copping a hit to the face?
It's funny, because I've had that many hits to the face. I've had two broken jaws, a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone, two cauliflower ears. I don't know if I've got a target on my face, but every hit seems to land there. It's just part of the game.
Do you have any signature looks, like Blue Steel?
The boys reckon I do this squint like I'm looking into the sun. They always give me shit for that.
We'll call it Blue Coops. Congratulations on winning the minor premiership. Can you go all the way and win the grand final this year?
Look, we've been playing some good footy this year. We're pretty confident and not looking too far ahead of ourselves. Our goal is to put on a better performance than last year.
Have you ever made coach Wayne Bennett laugh?
Of course. He's a pretty funny guy, mate. He loves having a joke. You just don't see that side of him in the media. He'll probably kill me for saying it.
Have you ever played Dungeons & Dragons?
I've heard a lot about it but I've never played it. I used to be the bomb at
Guess Who? I couldn't be beaten.
If you had a pet dragon, what would you call him?
Something corny like Slayer.
Do you have a miniature sidekick called Mini Cooper?
I've got "Little Coops." Well, I don't reckon I do, but I've heard a few of the Tigers boys call Beau Ryan "Little Coops." They say he's always talking about me at training. We're good mates.
Dan Steiner
Your say: what’s your biggest fashion mistake?
Super hot Slideshows
Tri Nations of babes
Kim Kardashian's bikini jam
Ninemsn Home
For the latest news, weather, sport, lifestyle and travel updates
RALPH TV
Hawkins and hot models launch lingerie range
Miss Universe swimsuit category
