He also captained the club during their run to the 2017 grand final with Thurston and Matt Scott both injured. The 35-year old said North Queensland would always hold a special place in his heart. Coached by Anthony Griffin and captained by Matt Moylan, the Panthers competed in the National Rugby League's 2017 Telstra Premiership. The 35-year-old backrower has played 321 first-grade games, including 245 for the Cowboys across two stints. Whether Cooper retires or plays on overseas or at another NRL club in 2021 is expected to be clarified when he fronts a press conference on Tuesday. Kyle Laybutt (born 26 September 1995) is a Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Intrust Super Cup.

Cooper formed a vaunted try-scoring partnership with Cowboys great Johnathan Thurston, three times scoring over 10 tries in a season. We done mate! "Canterbury Bulldogs' Tim Browne hoping to deliver dagger blow to Penrith Panthers", "Penrith Panthers sign Jed Cartwright on a three-year deal", "Gold Coast star Ryan James' $2m payday, Wests Tigers sign forward — NRL Market Watch", "Why 2017 shapes as a crucial year in the NRL career of Panthers recruit Michael Oldfield", "I can win another premiership at Penrith Panthers, says James Tamou", "Rabbitohs Sign Four Up-And-Coming Players", "Penrith Panthers release Chris Grevsmuhl to deal with 'personal issues, "Gold Coast Titans sign former Penrith Panthers forward Chris Grevsmuhl", "Zak Hardaker to join Castleford on initial loan deal from Leeds", "Peta Hiku: Warrington Wolves sign Penrith Panthers & New Zealand centre", "Samisoni Langi: Leigh sign Tonga international until the end of the season", "Te Maire Martin Cowboys signing, Penrith Panthers playmaker moves mid-season as JT successor", "Parramatta Has Just Announced ANOTHER Signing", "Canberra Raiders sign former Penrith Panther Michael Oldfield and Sydney Rooster Liam Knight", "Parramatta Eels announce signings for the 2017 squad", "Former NRL player Tupou Sopoaga now starring in NRC for Western Sydney Rams", "Wests Tigers sign Malakai Watene-Zelezniak", "Panthers' boss Brian Fletcher calls for scrapping of Auckland Nines", "Could the Penrith Panthers be unwilling champions of the Auckland Nines? Match Report. Regardless, the team won all 3 of their pool matches, and progressed to the Grand Final, where they were defeated 10–8 by the Sydney Roosters. Queensland coach refuses to rule out State of Origin swan song... Three NRL clubs express interest in axed Dragon, report says.