Can't agree with that. He was a player limited by his own ego/unwillingness to adapt. The fact that you think he was "limited by his coach" because he didn't want one aspect in his game shows how limited Cooke really was. A true professional would have adapted and enhanced other areas of his game instead of sulking and drinking and just generally not being bothered.
Compare and contrast Cooke to Scott Murrell for instance. Scott Murrell started off as a smallish half back, but finding his way blocked initially by McGuire & Burrow and then by Cooke/Webster/Dobson he adapted his game, bulked up and has become a useful hooker/loose forward. Not the same talent as Cooke had but I know who I'd have in my team.


Has he? There were a few excellent long passes behind a dominant and excellent Hull FC pack, after that I'm really struggling.
I say what a complete and utter disappointment and waste of talent he was.

Totally agree a waste of talent but he did show it when he wanted to and to be fair I think he and Morgan never got on and wasn't allowed to play how he wanted to in my own opinion he was a hudgel purchase that never realy worked all though thanks to Cooke he helped us stay in super league which Iam extremely proud of I think if he hadn't of been here widnes would be were we are now I know everything in his private life wasn't great and he shouldn't of done what he did but he is a hell of a nice bloke when u speak to him and I do feel sorry for him after all the abuse him and his family got when he signed for rovers would be nice to see him in the championship tearing it apart

It wasn't just the long passes that he didnt like, he was asked to play on the wrong side of the pitch passing left to right which although still better than a lot of players it wasn't his strongest passing side.

Paul was tied in to game plans that meant everything went through Dobson, when he questioned his involvement in games he was shot down and pushed out.

As said he is a nice person to talk to if you are not up in his face, people who've had problems with him are generally the ones that were after trouble in the first place.

people who've had problems with him are generally the ones that were after trouble in the first place.

All though if true was stanly asking to be called a nig@@r by him. if it's true what I heard but hope it's not because that type of thing shouldn't happen in today's.world and my opinion of Paul Cooke will certainly take a nose dive

Having a ghost written column hardly makes him a journalist.

I heard those rumours too but found it hard to believe he would do this especially as it apparently happened in training and not while drunk.

Surely with Paul Cooke those two things weren't mutually exclusive.

You have to be picky don't you

Don`t think I have known so many postings about one player,it was mayhem on both Hull forums for a while,now he has leaked on to here!
This guy will just not lie down.

So that should make him a legend in his own right then lol

fighting with newton in training also i hear

Couldn't agree with that more tbh.

He was a Hudgell purchase, purely to get one over on FC. Morgan wasn't stupid and knew he could help them stay up, however, he was never in Morgan's long term plans. Why he was never utilised in his more acustomed role i will never know.
No offence to Dobson as he's probably the most consistent 7 in the league (although there's no real competition) but Cooke led us to the Challenge cup and a Grand Final appearance, Dobson's got them nowhere near that.

Yeah, but only because Cooke dared to question the Aussie clique.

Working for the HDM is a waste of good talent even for a journalist.

i always got on with him very well on a personal level, i also think the stifled game plan was a factor and also agree about it being hudgell not jm that wanted him. hull got the best out of him but he helped us stay up. enough for me. also imo most of the pub problems have been caused by his brother, now go on, shoot me down. doesn't excuse it but true all the same

He will maybe try and sign with the club that gets into super league (Widnes) if he's coming back to play next year

You'd have thought that he'd try to get a contract with them this season, rather than take a year out.
If he's saying that he's taking a year out, that isn't down to his personal choice. It's down to nobody wanting him due to the reputation he's made for himself.

Seems like a lot of people making excuses for him, game plans, playing styles aussie cliques etc... as someone said if he was as world class as was made out he'd have adapted. If it was a rift with Morgan then surely when he went to Wakey he'd have had a point to prove and would have stepped it up a gear yet he had one good game for them, surprise surprise against FC.

He's a very lazy player that will turn up when he wants to, usually in a TV game and usually against FC, the rest of the time he goes missing. he was in a very good side at FC behind a dominant pack, he didn't need to dig in so he shone.
No one to blame but himself for his demise, thought he was bigger than our club, FC let him get away his antics, HKR didn't and he sulked... think he'll try and make a comeback next year prob in championship as thats as good as he'll get but it'll fail.

He's hardly blessed with what people tend to call 'natural fitness'. Whatever that is!!!

A year out will finish his career at SL level.

Totally agree with all that.

There were whispers in the area he was about to sign a part-time contract with Featherstone Rovers

There may well have been disagreements, bad behaviour, altercations in training etc, but the majority of rumours are blown way out of proportion, mainly because of the rivalry in Hull. Even in this thread some people are passing stuff off as fact when they actually know nothing.

To be honest his 'demise' is probably more down to the fact that the guy is a RL player in ability alone. I don't think he's ever really demonstrated the work ethic, hunger, attitude or professionalism to be a pro sportsman, especially when you consider how league is now dominated by ultra physical and (predominantly) professional athletes. IMHO Cooke doesn't possess the credentials to be that, so has duly fallen by the wayside.

Quote ="knotlaknight"There were whispers in the area he was about to sign a part-time contract with =#FF0000Featherstone Rovers'" Quote "I saw all the rumours about me going back to Hull, and the links with Bradford and then Featherstone, but I haven't spoken to anyone about playing rugby.'" www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

Quote ="knotlaknight"There were whispers in the area he was about to sign a part-time contract with =#FF0000Featherstone Rovers'" Quote "I saw all the rumours about me going back to Hull, and the links with Bradford and then Featherstone, but I haven't spoken to anyone about playing rugby.'" www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

Why shoot you down?
Agree with what you say,except I know nowt about his brother.

why shoot me down? you go on the kr forum, an honest post like the above still gets trolls been div's.

i like the guy but is his own worst enemy. his brother is a total div.