Dragons legend Matt Cooper has skipped the club's 2010 premiership reunion, citing the presence of former CEO Peter Doust as the major reason for his absence.
Due to COVID restrictions in the past two years, St George Illawarra postponed their 10-year reunion celebrations until this past week and plenty of the heroes from the side were in attendance.
The likes of Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale and Jamie Soward all turned up for the occasion, while Rabbitohs assistant Ben Hornby and legendary coach Wayne Bennett also took part in the festivities.
But one man that was missing was Cooper, who has been at odds with the Dragons since his retirement back in 2013 and has been vocal about his disappointment in the club's poor performances in recent years.
MORE: Bronson Xerri finds new club | Foran's goal for Titans in 2023
Cooper took to social media on Saturday to explain his decision to skip the event, which came down the attendance of two people - Doust and an unnamed former player.
I want to apologise to my 2010 premiership team for not attending the 10-12year reunion. The reason why I did not attend, was I didn’t want to make a scene and ruin a special occasion! Knowing former CEO and a player who did not even play in the game were going to be there.
— Matt Cooper (@mattcooper44) December 3, 2022
I can see a lot of people are wondering why I sent that tweet, it was my only way to let the players know why I wasn’t there. With the why,it has to do with what happened to me when I retired, I’m not ready to share that right now, but the truth will come out next year.
— Matt Cooper (@mattcooper44) December 3, 2022
A day to remember the #NRLCHAMPS of 2010. @NRL_Dragons pic.twitter.com/1Mfnwu7MOx
— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) December 3, 2022
Cooper also replied to a fan on Twitter and said 'if only you knew what Doust did to me' when questioned on why he missed the event.
While the details regarding Cooper's feud with the Dragons and Doust in particular are scarce, the belief is that the former NSW and Australian centre was promised a job with the Red V that the club never followed through with.
Cooper was one of St George Illawarra's best players of the modern era, scoring 125 tries in 244 games for the club.
The 43-year-old also played 13 State of Origin games for the Blues and seven Tests for the Kangaroos, and is regarded as one of the game's best defensive centres.
