Paul Cooke

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Paul Cooke
Personal information
Full name Paul Cooke
Date of birth April 17, 1981 (1981-04-17) (age 27)
Place of birth Hull, England
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight 16 st 0 lb (102 kg)
Nickname(s) Cookie
Club information
Position(s) Stand-Off / Loose Forward
Current club Hull KR
Number 6
Youth clubs
Years Club
Hull FC Academy
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
1998 ‐ 07
2007 ‐		 Hull FC
Hull KR		 221 (798)
15 (78)
Representative teams
England

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Paul Cooke (born April 17, 1981 in east Hull) is a professional rugby league player with Hull Kingston Rovers in the English Super League, having transferred from cross city-rivals, Hull FC in April 2007. Paul can cover two positions with loose forward his preferred choice but at Hull FC mostly played in the half-backs.

Hull born Cooke was a stalwart in the Hull FC side, having come through the academy and earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous attacking players in Super League. In contrast, his abilities as a defender were always his weaker point and he has sometimes been criticised for his erratic long-kicking game.

His pairing with Richard Horne led to the memorable victory over Leeds Rhinos in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final in which Cooke scored the winning try to give Hull FC a 25-24 victory.

Contents

[edit] Hull KR transfer saga

On 19 April 2007, BBC Radio Humberside sensationally 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 KR 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 £10,000 pay rise, to put him on level with the as mentioned established stars, the request was denied. He then later gave the board of Hull FC every oppertunity to raise his pay, whilst they were in the knowledge that Hull KR had wing of the unrest in the FC camp. An offer was made to Paul from Hull KR, before agreeing to sing, he again went to the Hull FC board with details of the offer from KR, asking them not to match the offer, but simply increase his pay slightly. Not doing so, the very next day he handed his notice in at Hull FC and left for Hull KR.

[edit] Legal Battle as Cooke hands in resignation

On April 23, 2007, it was announced that Cooke had signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Hull Kingston Rovers, taking effect immediately. The RFL initially blocked this transfer[1] 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 the "Robins" the following week.

Cooke finally realised his dream of playing for his boyhood heroes. Although he will always be remembered for his part in Hull FCs Challenge Cup Victory over Leeds in 2005, he may find himself vilified by some Hull FC fans. His form has been improving for his new Club, manifested on the 3 August 2007 where he helped inspire his team to a vital victory at fellow strugglers Salford City Reds by 30-24, which all but guaranteed top flight status for the Robins going into the 2008 Campaign,

In November 2007 a Rugby Football League tribunal found Cooke guilty of misconduct for approaching the Robins while still under contract to Hull FC. His punishment included a ban that will rule 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cooke secures switch to Hull KR BBC News - 27 April 2007

[edit] =External Links