Paul Cooke

Paul Cooke (born 17 April 1981) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and rugby league, and rugby union coach of the 2010s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level in the Super League for Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers, and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, and in the Championship 1 and Championship for Doncaster and Featherstone Rovers (Heritage № 1030), as a stand-off, or loose forward, and has coached rugby league (RL) for Doncaster, and the Leigh Centurions (Assistant Coach), and rugby union (RU) for the Doncaster Knights (Skills, and Backs Coach).

For the former rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, and coach of the 2000s and 2010s, see Paul Cook (rugby league).

Paul Cooke
Personal information
Full namePaul Cooke
Born (1981-04-17) 17 April 1981
Hull, England
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight16 st 0 lb (102 kg)
Playing information
PositionStand-off, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–07 Hull FC 204 32 332 4 796
2007–10 Hull Kingston Rovers 65 9 92 0 222
2010 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 18 3 38 2 90
2012–15 Doncaster 86 18 53 2 180
2015 Featherstone Rovers 10 2 0 0 8
Total 383 64 515 8 1296
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006 England 3 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2014–15 Doncaster
As of 20 September 2015
Source: [1][2][3][4]

Background

Cooke was born in East Hull, Humberside.

Career

His pairing with Richard Horne led to the memorable victory over Leeds in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final in which Cooke scored the winning try to give Hull FC a 25–24 victory. Hull FC reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against St. Helens, and Cooke played stand-off in his side's 4–26 loss.[5]

On 22 July after being given a franchise for Super League from 2009 to 2011 Salford City Reds coach Shaun McRae said he would be interested in speaking to Cooke with an intention of him joining his side, Cooke and McRae worked together at Hull FC earlier in their careers, though Cooke did not go on to play for the Salford City Reds.

On 19 April 2007, BBC Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire) announced that Paul Cooke was to walk out on Hull FC to join cross city rivals Hull Kingston Rovers. Cooke was born in East Hull where Hull Kingston Rovers are based and supported the club as a youngster. He played his last game for Hull FC against Bradford Bulls that night. The saga was based around Cooke's frustration at being on a lower wage than other established stars at Hull FC. Asking the board for a pay rise, the request was denied. With Hull FC refusing to increase his pay, Paul Cooke walked out on Hull FC and signed for Hull Kingston Rovers.

On 23 April 2007, it was announced that Cooke had signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Hull Kingston Rovers, taking effect immediately. The Rugby Football League (RFL) initially blocked this transfer[6] stating that his registration remained with Hull FC. Some confusion followed amid allegations that he had never signed his contract with Hull FC, despite local media reports at the time to the contrary. However the move went ahead and he duly turned up playing for Hull Kingston Rovers the following week.

In November 2007 a RFL tribunal found Cooke guilty of misconduct for approaching Hull Kingston Rovers while still under contract to Hull FC. His punishment included a ban that ruled him out of the first six games of the 2008 season.

Following the tribunal decision Hull FC chief executive James Rule said "We will now take time to consider our next steps with regard to potential future civil action" suggesting the Cooke transfer saga may be far from over. However it appears to have died down, and by the end of the 2009 season Cooke had settled into the Hull Kingston Rovers team, making a major contribution to his team's next 2 Super League finishes of 7th and 4th.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats signed Paul Cooke from Hull Kingston Rovers until the end of the 2010–11 season, the 28-year-old stand-off/loose forward, who made a controversial move from Hull FC to Hull Kingston Rovers in 2007, had been out of favour at Hull Kingston Rovers that season. Cooke made his début with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats against Salford City Reds on Sunday 21 March 2010, and made his full début in the 36–16 defeat at Warrington, and his first full home game when Wakefield Trinity Wildcats won 19–6 against neighbours Castleford Tigers. It was in that game when Wakefield Trinity Wildcats fans realised Cooke's true potential and part in the team.

Cooke had the option to earn a deal for next season, whether that was at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats or another club.[7]

On 12 January 2012 Cooke signed for Championship 1 side Doncaster, after fans and sponsors agreed to pay half his salary. He combined playing for the club with a full-time job in their development department.[8] He has also signed as a backs coach for Doncaster Knights, the town's rugby union club, for the 2013/14 season.[9]

Paul Cooke made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Sunday 28 June 2015, and he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers during the 2015 season.

As of 2016, he is a coach with Super League side Leigh Centurions.

References
  1. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "St Helens 26–4 Hull FC". BBC News. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  6. Cooke secures switch to Hull KR BBC News – 27 April 2007
  7. "Cooke seals Wildcats switch". Sky Sports. 19 March 2010.
  8. "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News. 27 August 2005.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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