| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Cooke | |||||
| Nickname | Cookie | |||||
| Born | 17 April 1981 Hull, England |
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| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | |||||
| Weight | 16 st 0 lb (102 kg) | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | Five-eighth, Lock | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1999–2007 | Hull | 204 | 32 | 332 | 4 | 796 |
| 2007–2010 | Hull KR | 65 | 9 | 92 | 0 | 222 |
| 2010 | Wakefield Wildcats | 18 | 3 | 38 | 2 | 90 |
| Total | 287 | 44 | 462 | 6 | 1108 | |
| As of 09 September 2010 | ||||||
| Source: Rugby League Project | ||||||
Paul Cooke (born April 17, 1981 in east Hull) is a professional rugby league player, who is currently taking a year out of the sport, to concentrate on a career in journalism. He previously played for Wakefield Wildcats and Hull Kingston Rovers having transferred from cross city-rivals, Hull in April 2007. Paul can cover two positions with loose forward his preferred choice but at Hull mostly played in the half-backs.
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 a 25-24 victory.
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 earlier in their careers.
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On 19 April 2007, BBC Look North announced that Paul Cooke was to walk out on Hull 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 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. 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 every opportunity to raise his pay. With Hull refusing to increase his pay, Paul Cooke walked out on Hull (he was not approached by Hull KR which was proven in an inquiry) and signed for Hull KR.
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 RFL initially blocked this transfer[1] stating that his registration remained with Hull. Some confusion followed amid allegations that he had never signed his contract with Hull, 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's Challenge Cup Victory over Leeds in 2005, he may find himself vilified by some Hull fans. His form has been improving for his new Club, manifested on 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. His punishment included a ban that will rule him out of the first six games of the 2008 season.
Following the tribunal decision Hull 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 KR team, making a major contribution to his team's next 2 Super League finishes of 7th and 4th.
Wakefield have signed Paul Cooke from Hull KR until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old stand-off, who made a controversial move from Hull to the Robins in 2007, has been out of favour at Craven Park this season. Cooke has made his debut with Wakefield Wildcats when they were against Salford City Reds on Sunday 21 March 2010, made his full debut at the 36-16 defeat at Warrington, and made his first full home game when Wakefield won 19-6 against neighbours Castleford Tigers. It was in this game when Wildcat fans realised Cooke's true potential and part in the team.
Cooke will now have the option to earn a deal for next season, whether that is at the Wildcats or another Super League club.[2]
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