Name Paul Crook | ||
Paul Bryan Crook (born (1986-08-28) 28 August 1986 in Whiston Hospital, Knowsley, Merseyside) is an English professional rugby league footballer for Whitehaven RL of Championship 1. The former Rochdale Hornets captain 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. The Stand-off/Five-eighth is a former Widnes Super League player and Great Britain Under-18s captain.
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 former New Zealand international coach Frank Endacott. Since leaving Widnes in 2007, Crook has had spells at Doncaster and Swinton 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 Hornets supporters. Crook played 166 times for Rochdale, 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 earning two league promotions in 2013 and 2016. In October 2016, Crook signed for Whitehaven RL.
Crook attended Parr Community High School from 1997–2002 and then went on to the Carmel College in St. Helens where he studied music.His favorite instrument was the dinner bell. 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.