Cooper has earned and deserved good money. Neither Dudson nor Kasiano can be said to be a direct replacement but that doesn't mean we won't have a stronger pack overall.
I would want Cooper to stay.

I asked myself 2 questions:

Who has been a better player over their careers, Cooper or Dudson?
Arguably Cooper imo.

Who has been the better player since at least the pandemic and perhaps a season before until present?
Little doubt Dudson imo.

I can only suggest Cooper has been on a slow slope for some time and as his decline is slow, we hadn’t really noticed and accepted it, it’s only when in my head when I compared him to Dudson throughout the last 3 seasons, it stands out. Perhaps I couldn’t see the woods for the trees. I’m ok with Coops moving on.

As has been said, it isn’t whether Dudson is better than Cooper, it’s whether Vaughan?, Dudson, McGuire?, Mikaele and Kasiano are better than Cooper, Mulhern, Magoulias, Bullock & Philbin. That’s a resounding yes right?

Vaughan and McGuire put a very different slant on our prop recruitment.

Is this just a rumour or do we have it confirmed? I’m surprised we’re able to sign 5 top forwards, along with Dufty if the other rumour is to be believed.

Hope it’s true though!

I asked why are we signing all of these players and what's happening to the incumbent players, I was informed that there are is potential for 12 players leaving. The person I was in conversation with wouldn't divulge who was on the list that isn't in the public domain. Overall i believe that once the OOC and confirmed moves are done there will a couple of surprises.