Giants poised to get their man as Cooke looks set for Wakefield

Wakefield were at the heart of negotiations last night as they considered Huddersfield's bid for their gifted scrum-half Brough while also trying to thrash out a deal to bring Hull KR's mercurial Cooke to Belle Vue.

Wildcats have battled desperately to keep hold of the prolific Brough, 26, who boasts arguably the finest kicking game in the competition and is the engineer behind their attacking thrust.

However, he is out of contract at the end of the season and has turned down a lucrative deal to stay.

Long-timer admirers Huddersfield failed in an attempt to lure the former Scotland captain last year but coach Nathan Brown is now set to get his man with third-placed GIants ready to offer cash and players in return for his services.

Wildcats' executive director, Diane Maskill said: "We have been discussing the possibility of a new contract with Danny Brough and his agent since summer 2009 and during that time made several offers, none of which proved satisfactory.

"While we were anxious to keep a quality player like Danny at Wakefield, we've reached a point in the negotiations where we were no longer prepared to increase our final offer.

"Huddersfield Giants have approached us concerning Danny and we are considering what they've said to us.

"Any deal would have to be in the best interests of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and enable us to maintain or improve the quality of the team's competiveness and potential."

Giants' scrum-half Luke Robinson signed a new two-year deal last week but has been told he will be switched to hooker on Brough's arrival and is ready to embrace sharing that duty with Shaun Lunt.

Wakefield insist their bid to bring in stand-off Cooke, 28, does not hinge on the Brough deal being completed.

It is understood Cooke – out of favour at Craven Park since the 30-0 loss against Huddersfield three weeks ago – is closing in on a severance agreement for the remainder of his final year with Rovers and the Wildcats will then hand the troubled but talented player a contract for the rest of the season.

Hull coach Richard Agar could be charged by the RFL after apparently confronting referee Thierry Alibert at half-time during the defeat at Wigan while Huddersfield prop Andy Raleigh appears before the disciplinary panel tonight after being cited for punching against Leeds.