Quade Cooper's magical skills will continue to propel the Wallabies and Queensland Reds in 2012 with the gifted playmaker recommitting to Australian rugby.

Cooper is expected to announce a new one-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union on Thursday, continuing the growing trend of Wallabies re-signing beyond this year's World Cup in New Zealand.

While the Queensland Reds have been extremely confident their star five-eighth would remain at Ballymore, the announcement is nonetheless a major boost to rising Super Rugby's pacesetters.

Cooper last year agreed to a new two-year deal with the Reds before signing on for just one season with the ARU after attracting NRL attention, including a highly-lucrative offer from Parramatta.

By taking a single-season contract the 23-year-old, now regarded as the second best No.10 in the game behind All Blacks maestro Daniel Carter, was able to increase his salary with his improved standing in the game.

It will also leave the quick-stepping, flick-passing flyhalf well placed to negotiate another big deal next year when a second Brisbane NRL team hopes to be admitted into an expanded 2013 premiership.

Since having his future clouded by a bizarre burglary charge on the Gold Coast in December 2009, Cooper has cemented himself among Australia's most important three players, alongside Reds halves partner Will Genia and Test flanker David Pocock.

The New Zealand-bred, Brisbane-schooled back enjoyed a brilliant 2010 Super Rugby season to win the Australian player of the year award and went on to start all of the Wallabies' Tests at No.10, except for a two-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the Tri-Nations.

With 60 Super Rugby caps under his belt for the Reds to go along with his 24 Tests, Cooper hinted before this season's opening round he was keen to stay in Brisbane by admitting he hoped to become a 100-match Queensland player like mentor Tim Horan and Chris Latham.

His re-signing appeared a formality last week when he told AAP he was hopeful of close friend James O'Connor joining him in the Reds star-studded backline next year.

The Western Force whiz-kid indicated he would decide his future during the Force's bye week but is still yet to make his call between four of the five Australian provinces.

Cooper said he supported O'Connor in whatever choice he made and was mindful about not pressuring the Test utility back.

"I've had a few chats to him about it but I'm not going to try and sway him to the Reds," Cooper told AAP.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on him.

"When I was going through the same decision there was always a lot fo people who gave their opinion and sometimes it becomes a bit too much."

Cooper's re-signing follows that of Reds Test players James Horwill and Ben Daley, as well as rising winger Luke Morahan, but Queensland have a fight to keep strike weapon Digby Ioane from accepting a massive offer from Japanese club Kubota.

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