Cooke will be dificult to replace & there are not many non quota number sixes around so we will have to (A) promote a younger player ( Ianson ?),(B) give someone at the club the position (Murrel ?), (C) buy an expensive Aussie. My option is B, but thats why the coach gets paid he will have to ballance the squad as well as the books. It happens all the time. I expect Dobson would be off to Australia if a NRL club wanted him, it makes the quota/salary cap interesting.

I thought he had left already seeing as it is more than 6 months since a HFC fan started a thread about him going!

www.sporthull.co.uk/hullkr/news/ ... ticle.html Brough swap deal back on........................

www.sporthull.co.uk/hullkr/news/ ... ticle.html Brough swap deal back on........................

I'd have thought if he went to wakefield it would be to reunite brough/cooke/kear?

Well it said in the other story that a swap deal had been agreed, but the only stumbling block was Cookes wages.

the only reason for a swap would be cost cutting ! brough ,another scrum half is that what is needed ? you cant play behind a beaten pack and if they dont get a couple of forwards in thats what cooke and dobson will be doing this season

I heard he was offered to the Crusaders but he wouldnt go

Really? A stunning exclusive, I can't believe nobody else has mentioned that!

The saddest thing about cooke is the wasted talant. Imagine how good he could have been if he applied himself 100%. He's a big guy, about 6'5'' I think, but isnt really built like an athlete. I've seen him with his shirt off, (all above board you understand, dont want any more rumours starting about the guy) he's just a bit flabby to be fair. If he was built like, for example, Paul Sculthorpe and had his power and fitness, with his own kicking and passing and organisation, he'd be unbelieveable. I know its all what ifs, but he has the skills for it but perhaps the side thats letting him down is his effort in training. I dont think anyone could honestly say that he couldnt get fitter and stronger, if he put some graft in.

Iv seen him throw out passes to put his winger in for a try from about 25/30m infield. When Andrew Johns did something like that it got everyone going mad about it, Cooke has the same ability, but just doesnt seem to get the chance as much at KR, maybe Dobson dominates the side too much. With a couple of good runners outside him he's deadly, but its seems at KR everything comes off Dobson. I think its obvious that Cooke needs to be the main man in his team. I dont like saying it but Cooke is a much better player than Dobson, if (its a big if though) he wants it enough. He could have played for GB/england in my opinion but only really has himslef to blame for not reaching his potential.

Hardly, he doesnt have a say in the teams make up or tactical approach as JM wont let him, if he had been given free rein and the team built around him, as at the Hull cup winning team, he would be on his way to been a Rovers great.
Unfortunately the coach decided early in the piece that this wasnt to be and decided to build his team around a reserve grade Aussie scrum half. When Cooke takes it on himself to more or less ignore this ala the derby matches, the results are there for all to see. A shame we cannot properly accomodate one of the best East Hull born players of the last twenty years. A wasted opportunity for both parties.

you don't just get given that role, its something you have to earn, and obviously JM didn't think he had,

In Justin We trust...

.
Sad but true. A spot on assessment of Cooke's career to date.

Because of withdrawell symptoms of no R.L.,I dug out the d.v.d of the challenge cup final at Cardiff. It actually seemed strange seeing Cooke in a black and white shirt.I will say though seeing that try again raised my spirits.Whatever the politics of Cookes defection, I have to thank him for one of those defining moments in my sporting memory,In my own opinion I dont think we have replaced him until now.In this time of goodwill I wish him luck,whatever he does on the field.

As a p.s.,it seemed strange too seeing Cooke,Briscoe and Chester in the previous games.