Paul Cooke to Hull K.R. ?

[deluded pom?]

Radio Humberside are running a story that Cooke will sign for Rovers. They haven't said when this will happen but their intimations are that it's imminent. They state that both clubs are denying the rumour but refuse to put their denial on record. Cooke's a lifelong Rovers fan but is contracted until 2008 which is also his testimonial year. Cooke has had a lot of "alleged" off field problems lately and maybe Hull have reached the end of their tether with him. Why else would you consider letting your star player join your biggest cross city rivals?

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

I just cannot see Hull FC giving their best player to KR. It's just not plausible.

His contract runs into 2009 I believe and I don't think Hull KR are cashed up to the extent where they would be buying up the contracts of top players at a top club?

The only way I can see any truth to this is Paul Cooke being sacked because of his off the field antics. But even the I cannot see him signing for Hull KR, when surely there would be other sides interested in his signature?

Unless he's been sacked from Hull FC, moved to KR till the end of the season because no other club has salary cap room and then he will leave for a big club for next year, I can't see it being true.

But this has come from the BBC of all places, hardly the place you would normally such rumour mungering to come from.

 

[Evil Homer]

Can't see him going to KR. Stupid career move if he did.

 

[AlbertRosenfeld]

Pardon the naive question, but what are Cooke's "off field antics" exactly?

 

[ParraDude_Jay]

Pardon the naive question, but what are Cooke's "off field antics" exactly?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,3-2006460235,00.html

 

[deluded pom?]

The local BBC news programme ran with it too but it came across as a nothing story with very little substance. It looked like someone was winding them up and they went for it hook, line and sinker. Apparently Radio Humberside were backtracking last night and only saying they'd reported that it "could be a possibility". If that's the case then Dame Edna "could" be queen of the Commonwealth one day. :roll:

 

[jed]

If that's the case then Dame Edna "could" be queen of the Commonwealth one day. :roll:

That'd get the Republic issue sorted for once and for all - she may be from Moonee Ponds, but you lot are welcome to her, we don't want her down here

 

[deluded pom?]

Nothing wrong with Barry. One of the funnier things to come out of Oz. You can have Mark Little and Rolf Harris back though. And take Germaine Greer while you're at it too.

 

[bartman]

Nothing wrong with Barry. One of the funnier things to come out of Oz. You can have Mark Little and Rolf Harris back though. And take Germaine Greer while you're at it too.

Joe Mangel had a career after Neighbours???

 

[geordiesaint]

It's not a story/rumour anymore: he has gone!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull/6584157.stm

 

[bartman]

Stunning news...

From geordiesaint's link:

Cooke quits Hull to join Rovers

Hull FC stand-off Paul Cooke has handed in his resignation at the KC Stadium and is expected to join Hull KR on a three-and-a-half year contract.

Cook, 26, is a lifelong Rovers fan who had been at Hull for nearly 10 years.

"I confirm that I have asked Hull FC to transfer my player registration to Hull KR and have notified the Rugby Football League accordingly," he said.

In a statement, Hull said: "This is now in the hands of our lawyers. We will make no further comment at this stage."

Earlier, Hull said an employment law specialist had confirmed they had a legally binding contract with Cooke, but he says he never signed the three-year deal they offered him in June.

"For some time I have been unhappy with a number of aspects of my contract with Hull FC and for that reason did not sign it," he said.

"After almost 10 years at the club, it is disappointing to leave in this way but all I can say is that I have enjoyed playing football for Hull FC and thank its thousands of fans for supporting me through the years.

"I am very happy with the contract arrangements that have been offered to me by Hull Kingston Rovers and now look forward to helping them maintain Super League status."

If Cooke's move goes through smoothly, he should make his Rovers debut against Huddersfield at Craven Park on Friday.

His next appearance for the club would then be against Hull FC at the Millennium Stadium on 5 May.

 

[deluded pom?]

It's not a story/rumour anymore: he has gone!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull/6584157.stm

Not yet he hasn't. No doubt that he will but the RFL have confirmed that they will refuse to register Cooke with Rovers because as far as they are concerned he's a contracted player with Hull F.C. They have asked Cooke and Hull F.C. to try and sort things out between them. If that fails (which it will) then it will go to a RFL tribunal. Either way Cooke will go as a free agent (doubtful) or with a fee on his head (likely) . Can Rovers afford to pay Hull F.C. compensation for Cooke's contract, highly doubtful unless Hull ask a pittance. This is set to run and run.

 

[deluded pom?]

At least Garry Schofield had the sense to leave the city when he left Hull F.C. Cooke will be in for a very rough ride if and when he signs for Rovers. Off the field as well as on it. The Judas crown has now been passed to Cooke.

 

[douglasallen91]

so has cooke been playing for free this year?

 

[deluded pom?]

so has cooke been playing for free this year?

Of course not , even IF he hasn't signed his contract the fact that he carried on playing and taking the money means he's agreed the contract in theory. It's all about which team of legal eagles are best at their job now.

 

[ParraDude_Jay]

He could have gone about it better but it's good to see him wanting to play for the club he's supported his whole life. If he waited too much longer they might not be in SL so he had to do it, good luck to him.

Webster and Cooke is a good combination but what about Murrell? He's been great for KR.

 

[bartman]

Latest BBC update has RFL confirming they won't register Cooke's new contract yet, pushing him and FC to the negotaition table, ahead of a tribunal meeting next week.

Lookes like Cooke doesn't play for anyone this weekend, and if he loses the tribunal he could have put himself in limbo for months. (If he wins a release he could line up for KR v FC in the derby weekend after.)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull/6584157.stm

RFL blocks Cooke move to Hull KR

The Rugby Football League has blocked Paul Cooke's attempt to quit Hull FC for local rivals Hull KR.

The 26-year-old stand-off, a lifelong Rovers fan, confirmed on Monday that he had handed in his resignation at the KC Stadium and was set to join Hull KR.

But Hull threatened legal action and RFL communications manager Craig Spence has now said that it would not sanction Cooke's registration with Hull KR.

"We believe Paul Cooke is a registered contracted player of Hull FC," he said.

"We would ask that Paul Cooke and Hull FC sit down to try to resolve this matter.

"If they can't, then Paul Cooke could seek an RFL dispute tribunal hearing. The earliest this could take place is next week."

 

[deluded pom?]

If Hull win the tribunal and Cooke is contracted to them then It's a case of HKR coming in with a transfer fee for him. If they can't afford one then offer him to all the rest of the SL teams. If after that he's still at the club then play him in the U21's 'til his contract expires. I'd willingly chip in a pound a week (and I'm sure plenty of other Hull fans would too) to keep Cooke in the stiffs for the rest of his Hull F.C. career.

 

[deluded pom?]

Cooke was snctioned to play last night by the RFL after they stated that the Hull F.C. board ahd accepted Cooke's letter of resignation. Hull are countering with threats to sue Cooke for breach of contract. Cooke played last night but failed to inspire the Dobbins to victory over the current form team in the SL Huddersfield. He also failed to inspire the Dobbins supporters as only 6,500 turned out to see the homecoming of their Messiah.

 

[bartman]

Interesting decisions over all this, makes you wonder what really went on behind the scenes...

http://www.therfl.co.uk/SL/news_item.php?id=7632

On Monday 23rd April 2007, Paul Cooke applied to the RFL for free agency status and to register with Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC.

Based on evidence provided to the RFL at the time, the RFL considered that Cooke had a binding contract with the Hull FC club that precluded this request.

Yesterday evidence was provided to the RFL that legal advisors on behalf of the Hull FC club had in fact accepted the player’s resignation with immediate effect on 23rd April 2007.

The evidence was provided by legal representatives of Paul Cooke.

Based on clear legal advice from the RFL’s external lawyers - the RFL has determined there is no valid reason not to accept the registration of Paul Cooke as a player with Hull KR following the acceptance of his resignation by Hull FC.

Accordingly Cooke is now able to begin playing for the Hull KR club with immediate effect.

Having now dealt with the specific matter of registration, allegations of misconduct against both Paul Cooke and the Hull Kingston Rovers club will be referred to the RFL Compliance Commissioner.

The RFL has no further comment to make at this stage.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The RFL considered the following during their determination of this matter:
- Paul Cooke was employed under a valid contract with Hull FC
- Paul Cooke resigned on 23 April and Hull FC accepted that resignation
- Paul Cooke validly applied to come off the Hull FC Register
- Paul Cooke was therefore entitled to apply to the Hull KR Register
- Paul Cooke and Hull KR have provided the necessary documents for registration to the RFL
- The RFL is required to register a player unless certain provisions apply
- The RFL has considered all of the relevant factors and does not reasonably believe that there are any legitimate reasons that prevent registration.