they did make a tentative approach to cooke but dave woods(coach) said he didnt want him! so the club walked away.atm,cooke is working for his dad(fitting windows?or along them lines)and training with one of the many amateur teams in hull-bransholme!!!

that's about his cup of tea!!!

Not sure he falls into the 'legend' bracket, but good luck to him and I wish him well.

He's a legend of the noughties isnt he? seven years at the club most as captain? most consistent and loyal player we have had since joing super league in 1999? Do you have to be in a team that wins a trophy or be with the club 12 years to become a legend? What's the 'criteria'? not having a go at you for saying this but just wondered what you have to do?

Either be an outstanding talent who people would pay to see, or be part of a team that wins stuff, and be a vital part of that. Longevity does not equal legendary status. Loyalty being an over-rated concept, when clubs don't show it, and neither should players. Just my opinion.

bear your towards castleford

I see JD as a decent player in his time and always gave 100%. However, I don't think these qualities alone make anyone a 'legend'. It's a term that should be reserved for the likes of Neil Fox and David Topliss. I think 'role model' would be more appropriate.

think the modern day player wouldn't stop so long, JD showed a great deal of loyalty to a club that he could of left at any time

While at the wildcats JD was 2004, 2006 and 2007 MOS 2007 dream team, 2007 coaches player of the year and supporters player of the year, consistantly top 25 in super league for line breaks and tackle busts, earned an award for outstanding contribution to super league. He was outstanding in 06 survival winning try in 04 playoff, try in million pound game and that great run out of the in goal at bradford in 06. He also lead us through some extremely difficult circumstances and JK refers to him as the best overseas player wakefield have had since super league began. These are all outsanding contributions from a player who will always be remembered on the terraces so in those terms yes he is a modern day legend.

I have to agree with all that.

Truth is you're both right. In relation to the last 10 years of SL JD is up there with Solomona and Ellis. He is certainly a legend in the SL era.

However good as his stats are he simply isn't up there with the likes of Fox, Turner, and Toppo and a hat full of others from the 1960's. This is for two good reasons, one - he simply wasn't as good a player, two - he never played in a team that was really good enough.

For those two reasons he simply isn't a true legend IMHO, but he is a legend for the era of the club he played in. Of course all things are relative so well done JD, if I could have been a 10th as good a player as JD I'd have been happy.

I think it is very unfair to compare Jd with Fox and Topliss and I am sure that Jd would be the first to admit that he could not be compared with either of them talent wise, and neither do I think that there is anybody on here trying to claim that he is. We all know what he has brought to the club in the time he has been here and if certain fans recognise that more than others and in their opinion think he should have legendary status, well where is the harm in that, he certainly stands head and shoulders above a lot of ex Wakey players I could name.

an aussie journeyman classed as a wakefield legend pmsl wtf is happening to this once great club.

Heard he is off to coach Keighley... nice little club that

" While at the wildcats JD was 2004, 2006 and 2007 MOS 2007 dream team, 2007 coaches player of the year and supporters player of the year, consistantly top 25 in super league for line breaks and tackle busts, earned an award for outstanding contribution to super league. He was outstanding in 06 survival winning try in 04 playoff, try in million pound game and that great run out of the in goal at bradford in 06. He also lead us through some extremely difficult circumstances and JK refers to him as the best overseas player wakefield have had since super league began. These are all outsanding contributions from a player who will always be remembered on the terraces so in those terms yes he is a modern day legend. "


I have to agree with this post above. JD has been superb since arriving at Wakefield and has never ever let us down. You cannot compare him to the likes of Fox, Toppo etc - its a completely different era and the game has moved forward now to the extent its virtually a different game ! How can you compare Lionel Messi against Stanley Matthews or James Anderson against Harold Larwood ??? You cant - all you can do is rate them against their team mates and opponents during their stint at the club and in my opinion 'legend' would fit the bill in this case perfectly.