Former Hull FC and Hull KR man reveals Challenge Cup regret with 1895 Cup admission made

Featherstone Rovers boss Paul Cooke has revealed one thing he’d change from his illustrious playing career.

The former Hull FC, Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity star was capped by England and won the Challenge Cup 20 years ago, but never got a chance to play at Wembley.

His Rovers side will have that opportunity when they face York Knights in Saturday’s 1895 Cup final and Cooke has urged them to relish every moment.

“I went there in the 1990s when Leeds played Wigan and grew up watching all those games, wanting to be a part of them and climb those iconic stairs,” he said.

“Then lo and behold, we win it in Cardiff and there’s a tinge of sadness, so it’ll be a really proud moment on Saturday.

“If I could go back to one game in my career and play it again at Wembley, it’d be the 2005 cup final.”

Ex-Hull FC and Hull KR man gives 1895 Cup preview

Though the 1895 showpiece follows the main event, the men’s Challenge Cup clash between Hull KR and Warrington Wolves, Cooke insisted there’ll be no feeling of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’.

“It carries a lot of can for everybody – the players, the staff, the club and the community,” he stressed.

“We can talk about all of that all you want, but the 17 players that take the field are the only ones that can influence it and write themselves into some kind of history.

“It’s not about anybody but the players for me. It’d be great for the families, the community and supporters, but it’s more about the players.”

It is the perfect final for Cooke, who – along with his assistant Ged Corcoran – was on the staff at York before taking charge of Rovers.

He and Knights boss Mark Applegarth are good mates and he admitted: “If you want me to say that it’s not about who we play and is just about us winning, there would still be a really small part of me that is pleased for York if we don’t.

“I can lie and say I’d be gutted and don’t want York to win it, but there would be a part of me that would be happy for the people at that club that I still care about and have a relationship with.

“There’s some kind of divine intervention and destiny that we’re playing York and a part of me wins this weekend even if we lose the game, because of the people I really care about. Being there gave me the love back for the game.”

Not long now 🕰️ pic.twitter.com/ljqPqQ7YSj

— AB Sundecks 1895 Cup (@1895Cup) June 3, 2025