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Rugby League

Cooke denies Hull FC bust-up

01/05/2007

New Hull Kingston Rovers signing Paul Cooke has denied having a falling-out with any Hull FC players or coaches, saying switching clubs was a "personal choice".

Cooke stirred up unrest in the Humberside city when he suddenly announced he was quitting Hull FC, who he had played for over the previous ten years, to move to cross-town rivals Hull KR.

Citing disappointment with his contract at the KC Stadium and a desire to play for his boyhood club, Cooke made the switch across the river.

But he denies the decision to leave Hull FC was anything to do with a particular disagreement with any individuals at the club.

"I've just had a conversation with my best mate Lee Radford who I'm supposed to have fallen out with," he explained.

"I can honestly say that I've fallen out with no player at the club, no member of the coaching staff at the club, and that's one thing I do want to make clear.

"I still have friends at the club and in the city. I still remain good friends with people."

Cooke said he would reveal "the full reasons when I get the chance", but that he would "definitely be the one to say it", although he said that because of the ongoing potential legal implications of his move, he could not elaborate.

"It was a personal choice for me to move and that was it," he said. "I felt the time was right for me and the opportunity arose and that was it."

Cooke is expected to line up against his former team-mates for Hull KR this Saturday when the two city rivals play each other in a key Super League fixture as part of the Millennium Magic promotional event at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

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