Paul Cooke learnt a hell of a lot from Jason Smith and might not have been the player he became without his influence. I remember Smith totally running many a game for Hull with Cooke and Horne playing the support act and doing as they were told.

Tony Grimaldi deserves a mention also for the professionalism he brought to the team in the early years.

I remember in his early games Cooke had Tony Smith playing at 7 too which massively helped him at the time. Agree that Cooke learnt a lot from Smith (including some of the bad habits)

As i say, it's a shame that people memories of Cooke are tainted by him walking out like he did.

Cooke had a couple of years of quality where he helped Hull to major finals and was on the verge of GB recognition. People shouldnt forget that but I wonder if he regrets the way his career has gone since then. I am not turning this into a Rovers slanging match but Paul Cooke is at his best guiding teams round the park as the main pivot IMO.

A great player does well no matter what team he is at. Cooke has shown he is not a great player since being at Rovers.

Swain gets my vote only just shading Smith though. Very hard to choose between them

But the topic is our best player of the noughties not overall great players, otherwise Kearney would get a mention and Richie Barnett would be higher up the list.

I still would not have Cooke above Swain or Smith though. He would probably be my 3rd choice.

I wouldnt have him above them either, i'd have him in my top 5.

If there was a "play of the decade" it would have to have been his chargedown at Cardiff.

Richard Swain for me
Jason Smith very close
Stevie Prescott

Cookie - never ever rated him to be honest, but he did make me smile at Cardiff!

i would say swain but a close second kearney , wot he did in that challenge cup year of 2005 was immense , a true leader and giant on and off the pitch

Swainy- best player in terms of overall influence on the team.

Jason Smith- best player in terms of being able to do something on the pitch that made you think, wow!!

put smiths brain into swains body and attitude and i think you'd be hard pushed to find a better player anywhere in the noughties!