Paul Crook (rugby league, born 1986)

For the rugby league footballer of the 1990s for Oldham, see Paul Crook (rugby league born 1974).

Paul Crook

Personal information
Born	(1986-08-28) 28 August 1986 (age 38) Whiston Hospital, Knowsley, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	14 st 7 lb (92 kg)
Playing information
Position	Stand-off, Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005–07 Widnes Vikings 14 2008 Doncaster 10 2 13 0 34 Swinton Lions 2010–16 Rochdale Hornets 166 64 616 11 1499 2017 Whitehaven 27 8 105 3 245 2018–19 Oldham 12 1 52 0 108 Total 229 75 786 14 1886
Source: [1][2][3][4] As of 30 May 2018

Paul Bryan Crook (born (1986-08-28)28 August 1986) is a former English professional rugby league footballer who last played for Oldham in League 1. In Oct 2019 he was appointed to coach the St Helens R.F.C. reserves team.^[5]

Crook signed for Whitehaven in October 2016 after captaining Rochdale to winning automatic promotion to the Championship with a 22-24 victory in the Grand Final against Toulouse in September 2016. Crook was also named League Express Player of the Year for Championship 1 in 2016.^[6] The Stand-off is a former Widnes Super League player and Great Britain Under-18s captain.

Background

Crook was born in Whiston Hospital, Knowsley, Merseyside, England.

Crook attended Parr Community High School from 1997–2002 and then went on to the Carmel College in St. Helens. He also went on to Edge Hill University, earning a sports and exercise science degree and has since become a qualified teacher of physical education. He now teaches at Hope Academy.

Career

Crook made his Super League début for Widnes in 2005 against London Broncos after progressing through the academy ranks at St. Helens. He went on to make 14 appearances that season under the New Zealand former international coach Frank Endacott. Since leaving Widnes in 2007, Crook has had spells at Doncaster and Swinton Lions before signing for Rochdale Hornets in 2010. Crook became a firm fans favourite over the next 7 seasons earning him the nickname 'The Ginger General' from the Rochdale Hornets supporters. Crook played 166 times for Rochdale Hornets, and after scoring 1499 points became the all-time top points scorer for the club, a record which had stood for 82 years. Crook enjoyed a successful time at Rochdale Hornets earning two league promotions in 2013 and 2016. In October 2016, Crook signed for Whitehaven.

Crook signed for Oldham in October 2017.^[7]

References

1. loverugbyleague
2. Profile at hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk Archived 2013-04-20 at archive.today
3. Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
4. Oldham profile
5. "Paul Crook returns home to join St Helens coaching staff". St Helens Reporter. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
6. Defeated Hornets looking the part
7. "Roughyeds land midfield maestro Crook". Oldham RLFC. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.

External links

• Oldham profile
• (archived by archive.is) profile at hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk
• Paul Crook's Twitter page