The ball is in Quade Cooper’s court whether he wants to play for the Wallabies again but all indications are the exiled Queensland Reds star is sticking to his guns.

The five-eighth has been told by coach Brad Thorn there’s no road back for him at the Reds and by Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham that playing club rugby won’t help him win back his Test spot.

But the 30-year-old appears determined to prove them wrong.

Cooper’s social media activity on Thursday morning suggests he’s committed to what he fittingly describes as “mission impossible”.

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations,” he wrote on Instagram.

“The more difficult it is to reach the destination, the more you will remember & appreciate the journey.”

The Reds and Rugby Australia would dearly love that destination to be either Melbourne or Canberra, or pretty much anywhere else other than Brisbane.

The Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies have made approaches but have been knocked back, with Cooper seemingly content to stay close to his family and friends and remain with Souths in the small pond of Brisbane Premier Rugby.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle admits there’s nothing she can do to change his mind, with Cooper contracted until the end of next year on a deal worth $650,000 a season.

Along with another banished Reds player, Karmichael Hunt, it represents a $1 million-plus drain on the national governing body’s finances.

“We can’t command (a move) to happen,” Castle told Fox Sports.

“He’s contracted with the Reds and if he wants to stay there and play club rugby, that’s what he’s allowed to do in the contract.

“As an athlete himself you would think he would want to be presenting himself on the best stage and playing in the highest level of competition – that’s what high-performance athletes are about.”

Cooper’s manager, Khoder Nasser, has been contacted for comment.