'Dream team' reunites in the hope of bringing best out of Cooke

The former England stand-off's turbulent time with Hull KR came to an end yesterday when they agreed to release him from the remainder of his final year.

Cooke was swiftly unveiled at Wakefield where he links up again with coach John Kear – the pair won the Challenge Cup with Hull FC in 2005 – and could debut against Salford City Reds at Hearwell Stadium tomorrow.

He had fallen out of favour at boyhood idols Rovers, Justin Morgan dropping him last month and leaving the talented star out of his squad for the last three fixtures.

Cooke, 28, was in danger of being left to rot in the Craven Park stands but after protracted negotiations with both parties has signed a short-term deal until November and is now relishing playing once more.

"If someone told me there was a game of touch and pass in the car park I'd be there," he told the Yorkshire Post.

"These last few weeks haven't been great at all for me but the most important thing is to be playing again.

"I can't wait to do that with Wakefield and I know what I'm getting with John.

"Some people say I played the best rugby under him when we won the Challenge Cup with Hull.

"I'm looking forward to teaming up with him again – and knowing what my responsibility and role in the team is."

Controversial Cooke shocked the rugby league world when he walked out on Hull FC in 2007 to join arch-rivals Rovers and was subsequently banned for four months by the RFL for making an illegal approach.

However, he failed to regularly produce the football everyone knows he is capable of, Morgan using Australian scrum-half Michael Dobson as his chief orchestrator, and the dream move turned sour.

"The chapter at Hull KR is now finished," Cooke said.

"It's a sad time when you leave anything on maybe not the right terms but I want to move on and hopefully Wakefield will bring the best out of me. I know John can do that.

"There's no reason why I can't play my best football yet here with Wakefield."

Cooke will train with his new team-mates for the first time this morning and is likely to be on the bench tomorrow.

Scrum-half Danny Brough – whose switch to Huddersfield Giants is not likely to go through until early next week – is also included meaning the pair who famously combined to bring that Challenge Cup to Hull may link up again if only for one match.

Cooke had options to move elsewhere for a longer contract but believes this deal will hand him the challenge he needs. Escaping the pressures and profile of life in his home city of Hull for the first time is equally attractive.

Castleford Tigers entertain in-form Wigan Warriors tomorrow while Huddersfield visit Harlequins this evening.