Paul Cooke named Championship Player of the Week
Doncaster stand-off Paul Cooke and Rochdale Hornets prop Warren Thompson are the Premier Sports Players of the Week.
Cooke helped inspire the Premier Sports Performance of the Week, as his Doncaster side shocked Featherstone Rovers 36-24 in the Kingstone Press Championship.
Thompson scored two tries as Rochdale came from behind to beat Oxford in Championship One.
Both players record the maximum five points towards their respective competition’s Player of the Year award at the end of the season.
Every week each coach in the Championship and Championship One is contacted to help compile the Premier Sports awards.
Premier Sports Championship Player of the Week – Paul Cooke (Doncaster)
Doncaster stand-off Paul Cooke was the key man in his side’s shock 36-24 win at Featherstone Rovers.
Doncaster coach Tony Miller said: “Paul had a big bearing on the outcome of the game.
“His organising and kicking were excellent, he created one try and scored another.
“He’s a really smart player who usually makes the right decisions and comes up with the right play, which is a skill in itself. He was the best player on the pitch.”
Premier Sports Championship One Player of the Week – Warren Thompson (Rochdale Hornets)
Hornets prop Warren Thompson was outstanding for the second successive week as Rochdale secured a 42-28 win at Oxford.
Rochdale coach Ian Talbot said: “Warren’s been consistently good for us all season. He scored two tries last week and got another couple this week, despite being up against a really big, physical Oxford team.
“We had to stay with them and he did lots of minutes. He does all the small things well, he’s very consistent with his carries and he’s got a real engine on him. He did the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes in considerable heat, and also came up with a 50-metre try. It was a great effort all round.”
Championship Player of the Year award
Workington Town half-back Callum Phillips moves up to second in the table after collecting four points, while Halifax’s Scott Murrell is just outside the top ten after recording two points, despite being edged out by Player of the Week Paul Cooke for the Team of the Week.
5 points – Paul Cooke
4 points – Callum Phillips
3 points – Lee Waterman
2 points – Scott Murrell
1 point – Liam Walmsley
Championship Player of the Year Table
1. Mitchell Stringer (13 points)
2. Scott Leatherbarrow (10 points)
3. Callum Phillips (10 points)
Championship One Player of the Year Award
North Wales Crusaders player Stuart Reardon moves into joint fourth place in the Player of the Year rankings after collecting three points for his performance in the 22-20 win over Oldham. Mike Bishay continues to top the table, but league leaders North Wales now have three players in the top five.
5 points – Warren Thompson (Rochdale Hornets)
4 points – Grant Gore (South Wales Scorpions)
3 points – Stuart Reardon (North Wales Crusaders)
2 points – Alex Hurst (London Skolars)
1 point – JJ Baird (Oxford)
Championship One Player of the Year table
1. Mike Bishay (10 points)
2. Gary Middlehurst (9 points)
3. Sean Morris (7 points)