Twist after Dragons legend offers to rejoin club

Matt Cooper will not rejoin the Dragons in 2024, although there is hope for a return to the club in years to come.

Wide World of Sports revealed in August the NRL legend was in talks with head coach Shane Flanagan to join the team in a formal coaching capacity.

However, the club's all-time highest try scorer has confirmed he will not be joining the club next year.

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In any case, the 44-year-old is optimistic he can be part of the team in 2025.

Ben Hornby (right) and Matt Cooper lift the NRL premiership trophy.

"Sorry Red V fans!" Cooper wrote on social media.

"After talking with Flanno, I will not be involved in any capacity!

"There is too many staff that have got one year left on their contracts. 

"But there is hope for the year after!"

Watch all the action from 'Battle on the Reef' on October 7. Available to watch via pay-per-view live and exclusively on Stan

Ahead of his professional boxing debut as part of Stan's exclusive pay-per-view Battle of the Reef bout, Cooper told Wide World of Sports he was discussing a return with Flanagan.

Cooper said he had moved on from his public fallout with the club that left him ostracised.

"When I retired from the Dragons, I left the club on bad terms," Cooper explained.

Matt Cooper will have his first professional fight at 44 years old.

"It was just one person and I love the club that much where I'm willing to put that aside and try and help the club – so hopefully I can be there in some formal capacity.

"I love the club so much that what happened is not worth being bitter and being an outsider of the club because I want to be involved in the club because I love it so much. 

"The club was a part of my life – 18 years. I would love to put things aside and help out the players."

The Dragons signed Dean Young to join the team as an assistant coach for the 2024 season. 

Flanagan took the reins of the Dragons after Anthony Griffin was sacked midway through this year.

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