Rugby: Lima Sopoaga questions Reds use of $700k man Quade Cooper

Quade Cooper has not played for the Reds in Super Rugby this year. Photo / Getty Images

When it comes to the Reds not utilising Quade Cooper in their set up this season, Lima Sopoaga is just as confused as the rest of us.

Cooper, 30, is currently contracted to the Queensland Super Rugby club on a deal worth roughly NZ$700,000 a season, yet has not featured at the top level in 2018.

Asked about the situation ahead of the Highlanders match against the Reds this weekend, Sopoaga had some strong thoughts.

"I guess if you're paying a guy $800-grand a season, he probably should be playing," the Highlanders first five-eighth said. "If you're paying a guy that much, he probably should be out on the park under the bright lights instead of playing club footy at 2:30 in the arvo."

While he didn't quite have the right figure for Cooper's contract, Sopoaga didn't hide his thoughts on the Reds decision to not use the former Wallaby.

"At the end of the day it's their set up, it's what their coaching staff want to do and their management."

The Reds have opted to run 27-year-old Jono Lance in the No.10 jersey this season, with no genuine first five-eighth on the bench. Young duo Hamish Stewart and Duncan Paia'aua have been the first-choice back ups in the position for coach Brad Thorn when Lance is unavailable.

"I think he just wants to go with some youth and head in a new direction. There's nothing wrong with that either, but I guess for a lot of the people wondering where Quade is, it's got nothing to do with him and he can't do anything about it."

Lance has been a strong contributor for an inconsistent Reds side this season, accounting for over 21 per cent of his side's points through the campaign so far.

After a dismal outing against the Sunwolves two weeks ago, the Reds showed a strong fight in their slim loss to the Hurricanes last time out.

And after the Highlanders' loss to the Waratahs in Sydney last week, the match against the Reds holds a touch more importance in their hunt for a wildcard spot into the playoffs.

The Dunedin-based side were expecting to be without winger Tevita Nabura, who was set to face the judicary this week for a flying kick to the face of Waratahs winger Cameron Clark.