Before joining the Melbourne Storm, Cooper played with Redcliffe Dolphins in the Brisbane Rugby League A-Grade competition, ending the 2002 season as the leading points scorer.

[4] Cooper made his debut in the NRL with the Melbourne Storm where he played the 2003 and 2004 seasons on the wing.

It was alleged that some of the Newcastle players had broken curfew to visit dormitories at Charles Sturt University.

In 2012, Cooper began playing five-eighth for the Boston Thirteens in the USARL and helped them to win a national championship in 2015.

He is also an inaugural member of the Asia Pacific Barbarians, participating in the annual Hong Kong rugby tens tournament in 2011.