Judas: The Story of Paul Cooke

by Paul Cooke

If you're from Hull you're either black and white or red and white. No ifs, no buts. Judas is the story of Paul Cooke, a gifted rugby league player who enjoyed glory at Hull FC on the west side of the city's rugby league divide - but caused outrage when he walked out of the club to join bitter rivals Hull Kingston Rovers. Magical on the pitch, Cooke was often in trouble off it. Growing up he loved Hull Kingston Rovers, but joined rivals Hull FC. His career flourished, but in 2007, Cooke walked out over a contract dispute. He made the switch to hated rivals Rovers; and became an instant target for abuse. His time in East Hull was dogged with more controversy, and while there were good times, he moved on to Wakefield before eventually turning his back on the game, to spend his time with his mother who had been diagnosed with cancer. After she sadly passed away, Cooke returned to rugby a changed man, to finish his playing career and embark on a new path in coaching. Brutally honest and self-critical, Cooke tells the painful truth in this book, alongside some glorious memories of sporting brilliance. It's the story of the player called 'Judas', Hull's most-hated rugby league son.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[richard shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Great read to know the true story , from a rugby league and Leeds fan , the more biographys you read the more you work out the politics and why the game hasn't really progressed in all these years

[Rob Crossland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Rugby League fan not just the ones in Hull. Adrian Durham captures the challenges of Paul Cooke's mercurial talent well and it's both a warning and a triumph in equal measures.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, insightful autobiography of Paul Cooke. A man who so many people thought had questionable morals tells his side of the story.