IT was the moment we’ve waited for all year — the returns of Quade Cooper and Karmichael Hunt to professional rugby.

Shown the door by first year Reds coach Brad Thorn before a ball had been kicked this season, the star duo finally played a game of national significance after spending time with Brisbane club side Souths.

But even with the discarded Test pair pulling the strings for Brisbane City, the two time champions were no match for the Western Force, who claimed a 47-29 win to open their NRC campaign in style at Hugh Courtney Oval.

While the official crowd figure of 4500 might have been slightly inflated, the healthy turnout was in part due to the decision to take the match to Norths’ home ground.

More likely though, it was the opportunity of seeing Cooper and Hunt in the flesh.

Trailing 26-17 at halftime, Cooper told Fox Sports that the NRC was all about putting on a show for the fans.

Indeed, that’s what he did.

There were glimpses of the vintage Cooper skillet that made him the most dangerous player in the world in 2011.

A cross field kick to his winger which led to City’s fifth try, a beautiful left to right pass which cut out two defenders and hit a teammate’s chest, an exquisite inside ball for Jayden Ngamanu to score, and a try of his own too.

But, equally, there were errors in Cooper’s 65 minute showing which vindicated Thorn’s decision to snub the 70 Test veteran and start a new chapter.

A one handed, round the back pass proved too hot for halves partner Moses Sorovi to handle on the stroke of halftime, he flung one early pass into touch and also slid off the odd tackle.

For all the excitement he brings, the only hope Cooper has of changing Thorn’s mind and earning a way back into the Reds side is if he takes charge and leads City to victories.

Hunt, too, had his moments at outside centre, with a second half break and sublime offload the highlight of his afternoon.

Former Wallaby Greg Martin was impressed by Cooper’s performance.

“I thought he was magnificent,” Martin said in commentary for Fox Sports.

“No-one takes it to the line like Quade Cooper.

“Made some mistakes, but who cares.”

While City were patchy and played like a side that had only come together a fortnight ago, the Force were solid and clearly benefited from having been together all season in World Series Rugby.

Former Reds star ‘Rocket’ Rod Davies opened the scoring for the Force, running in untouched after bursting onto a lovely cut out pass from fullback Jack McGregor.

City took the lead in the eighth minute as former Australian sevens forward Con Foley ran a good line from a Cooper pass close to the line.

Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thursh was then on the end of a rolling maul to see the Force retake the lead.

His 22-year-old Kiwi compatriot Jaye Thompson — who looks a talented outside back — responded with a try of his own in the 17th minute and when lock Patrick Morrey burst onto a Cooper ball, City held a 17-12 lead.

But three unanswered tries saw the Force skip ahead and on the back of a powerful scrum in the second half — led by experienced prop Kieran Longbottom — they didn’t let the lead slip.

“Obviously a dream start and the guys worked hard,” Force captain Ian Prior said.

“We got pushed there for 80, but I think the bench came on and really made an impact and really took the game away.

“The dark arts of the piggies there in the scrum, they did well.

“I think our impact players that came on really made a big difference there, and we’ve got some really good scrummagers in Kieran Longbottom and Feleti (Kaitu’u) and Harry Lloyd that came off the bench and took it to them.”

Defending champions Queensland Country and the Fijian Drua also posted round one victories, with the Sydney Rays and NSW Country Eagles having the bye.

ROUND ONE NRC RESULTS
FIJIAN DRUA 40 (L Kurumudu A Veitokani A Waqatabu S Vularika J Dyer A Daveta tries P Waqanibau 3 A Waqatabu 2 goals) MELBOURNE RISING 17 (T English 2 J Masters tries H Goddard goal) at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori

QLD COUNTRY 45 (A Casey 2 J Campbell 2 A Blyth C Timu R Puli’uvea tries J Tuttle 3 H Stewart 2 goals) CANBERRA VIKINGS 35 (F Fainga’a 3 L Taliauli A Muirhead tries J Jackson-Hope 3 W Hawera 2 goals) at Viking Park, Canberra.

WESTERN FORCE 47 (R Davies 2 F Kaitu’u 2 J Thrush J McGregor C Orr tries I Prior 6 goals) BRISBANE CITY 29 (C Foley J Thompson P Morrey Q Cooper J Ngamanu tries Q Cooper 2 goals) at Hugh Courtney Oval, Wavell Heights.

LADDER Rd 1 P W D L B F A PD Pts

Fijian Drua 1 1 0 0 40 17 23 1 5

Force 1 1 0 0 47 29 18 0 4

Queensland Country 1 1 0 0 45 35 10 0 4

NSW Country Eagles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sydney Rays 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Canberra Vikings 1 0 0 1 35 45 -10 0 0

Brisbane City 1 0 0 1 29 47 -18 0 0

Melbourne Rising 1 0 0 1 17 40 -23 0 0