A former New Zealand Warriors hooker has signed a contract to join a new team for the rest of the season.

Having last played in the NRL in 2018, Sam Cook announced his move to the York Knights in the RFL Championship – the second tier of the English Super League – for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Cook’s journey to the club includes stints with the Mackay Cutters, New Zealand Warriors, Newcastle Knights, and French team Racing Club Albi XIII.

After featuring in the Warriors Auckland Nines team in 2017, he made two first-grade appearances the following season before moving on to the Cutters in the QLD Cup competition.

“I’d only ever heard good things about the team, the club, and the city,” Cook said in a statement.

“When the opportunity came up, I was keen to jump at it and give it a red hot crack. It’s such a new experience for me. I’ve played rugby in New Zealand and Australia, and then in France, so getting the chance to go even further to the UK is a fantastic opportunity.”

“I want to bring my experience and leadership to the team and maintain a cool, calm head to help out the leaders and the team,” he added. “I’m pretty big on communication; that’s one of my real strengths. Hopefully, I can bring all my positive attributes to the team, give the boys a bit of confidence, and assist the young players as well.”

The club confirmed that Sam Cook will be eligible to play against the Dewsbury Rams next weekend on Sunday, June 16th.