Ex-Hull FC and Hull KR player Paul Cooke has swapped one Championship coaching gig for another ahead of the 2025 season.
Hull-born Cooke who represented the Black and Whites on 220 occasions before making the switch to Hull KR has found a career in coaching and punditry after calling time on his playing career.
He’s most recently served as the assistant coach to Mark Applegarth at York Knights but a rival Championship side have now swooped in to hire him for the 2025 campaign.
Former Hull FC and England playmaker Cooke was hired to the York Knights role for the 2024 season but makes a swift exit as he joins former York boss James Ford at Featherstone Rovers.
The Flat Cappers and York have seen several players move between the two clubs this off-season but this is the first coaching move and one that leaves Mark Applegarth short of an assistant for the upcoming campaign.
Ex-Hull FC star joins Featherstone Rovers coaching staff
Featherstone Rovers have been making a wave of announcements lately with the club confirming signings such as former Hull FC captain Carlos Tuimavave, Championship top try-scorer from 2024 Derrell Olpherts, and Newcastle Knights duo Clay Webb and Zach Herring.
Paul Cooke is the latest move and perhaps one of the more significant with the 43-year-old one of the leading minds in the sport.
Featherstone shared the news in a statement on their club website.
It read: “Featherstone Rovers are happy to announce that Paul Cooke will join the club for 2025 as an assistant coach from York Knights on a one year deal.
“The former half back has one of the most impressive resumes from his playing days. After making his debut for Hull FC in 1999, he made over 200 appearances for the Black and Whites, where he won the Challenge Cup in 2005.
“In a highly publicised move across the city to Hull KR in 2007 saw Cooke play three seasons with the Robins before making the switch the Wakefield for one year.”
Speaking on the move, Cooke said: “I’m made up to join Featherstone, it’s a great challenge and one I can’t wait to get started.
“I’ve admired the club from afar ever since my brief time as a player in 2015, it’s a club with so much ambition and a rich history which I’m pleased to be a part of.
“The signings Rovers have been making ahead of 2025 are really impressive and I’m looking forward to lending my support and guidance to achieve something special next year.”
Featherstone boss James Ford added: “I’m delighted to bring Paul into our environment and he’s already forging positive relationships and delivering to an impressive level. I’m confident that he’ll be a fantastic addition to our club and help us move towards our goals for 2025.”
