HULL KR EXCLUSIVE: Cooke agrees to join rivals

HULL KR's Paul Cooke has agreed a deal to join Wakefield on a season-long loan deal, the Mail can reveal.

Having been left out of Rovers last two matches – which they won, the 28-year-old has been out of favour at Craven Park.

Paul Cooke watches the 24-20 win over Castleford from the stands.

Cooke told his team-mates about the switch at training earlier today and now looks likely to be re-united with long-time admirer John Kear, his coach at Hull FC when the pair won the 2005 Challenge Cup.

Kear has always made it known he is an admirer of Cooke and now he has finally landed his man.

When asked about the move by the Mail earlier today, Kear said "It's all just speculation.

"I'd be very surprised if Paul gets changed in the away changing room on Friday night."

But sources close to the player have confirmed the switch is on the agenda.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the current season, he had been told he would not get a new deal at Craven Park.

His switch to Belle Vue is believed to come with the promise of an extended stay should Cooke impresses between now and the end of the season.

When asked about Paul Cooke's future last week, Rovers coach Justin Morgan said: "Paul still has a future here but I have had no phone calls from anybody.

"He is contracted to us and is working hard to get back in the team along with four or five other players."