During his time working at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Matt Cook was often asked by colleagues what his next move might be. The former Bradford Bulls and Castleford Tigers forward would, only half-jokingly, say that becoming a general manager of a Super League club was his dream job.
And yet fantasy will become reality early next month when the 36-year-old starts that exact role at Leeds Rhinos, the eight-time Super League champions. “I thought I’d have to start out in the Championship perhaps but even there, such jobs don’t normally come around very often,” Cook told Leeds Live.
“Luckily, Leeds put the job advert out at the back end of my time at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. I knew I had to apply because they’re one of the biggest clubs in world rugby league. I got my application in, sat down with Gary Hetherington and Rohan Smith, and got the job. I’m really excited for the next stage of my career.”
Read more: Young Super League duo face uncertain futures as compensation rules leave them 'trapped'
Cook has spent almost two years working at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup but a tumultuous yet highly rewarding chapter in his life is now drawing to a close. As Operations Coordinator, he was responsible for leading the planning, building, and delivery of the entire tournament’s welfare provision and leading the training logistics across the three tournaments.
Cook is confident his recent experiences – and distinguished 18-year playing career which harvested almost 300 appearances – will serve him well at Headingley. He explained: “I’ve been looking after 12 teams during the past two years at the World Cup, so a lot of the work I’ll be doing at Leeds should be pretty similar.
“The multi-tasking, the interpersonal skills, and those six weeks of craziness during the World Cup has made me more resilient. I was there when it got postponed as well and all that uncertainty – and then seeing it through and us finally delivering by having three trophies all at once being lifted – was character building. I wondered when I hung up my boots if I ever would have that feeling of working in an intense team environment again.
“At Old Trafford, when the men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams lifted their respective trophies, that feeling came back. It made me want to stay in the game and I’m thankful for the opportunity Gary and Rohan have given me, plus I’m very determined to make sure I deliver. I’ll be able to put my rugby head on at times as well to get into the minds of the players to know what they want.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the RFL too, which I’m sure will come in handy with things like player registrations and loans. It’s a big job, but there is also plenty of scope for me to learn and working with someone like Rohan, who has performed a lot of my tasks during his career, will be fantastic.
"I’m sure the footy ops won’t just stop at the men’s first-team – I think it will extend to the women’s game, PDRL, wheelchair team, reserve grade, Academy and even the netball side. I’m already looking forward to the challenge.”
Warrington-based Cook, who will commute to Leeds on a daily basis, will be in the thick of things by being based at the Rhinos’ training headquarters at Kirkstall.
“I’ll be fully integrated into the backroom staff so whenever they need me I’m there,” he said. “I’ll be the main link between Kirkstall and the rest of the operational staff at Headingley Stadium.”
Cook has also been quietly studying for a degree in business management – specialising in leadership practice – at the Open University on a part-time basis for the past six years.
“That qualification and my World Cup experience has put me on a pathway and, deep down, I always knew I wanted to stay in rugby league on the administration side,” he explained. “To be this close to the football operation is a dream come true and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Cook enjoyed a recent family holiday in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík and will officially start at Leeds on January 3. “I’ve been touching base with Rohan and will start picking up little bits of work, slowly, leading up to Christmas,” he said.
Cook enjoyed a fine playing career and was part of the Castleford Tigers team who finished top for the first time in the club’s history in 2017. They reached the Grand Final, but lost to Leeds in Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire’s final game for the Rhinos.
Cook remembered: “It was a very special moment to finish top for the first time in Castleford Tigers’ history. I played in the Grand Final defeat to Leeds in 2017 – which came up in my interview with Gary and Rohan – but hopefully now I can be part of a Rhinos team who go on and achieve further glory and titles, albeit from the sidelines.
“Leeds Rhinos were almost relegation fodder last season and Rohan came in and got them to a Grand Final. That says a lot about his coaching ability and how he can obviously galvanise a team to move in the right direction. I’m very excited to see where the team goes in 2023 and beyond. Hopefully I’ll be there for a long time.”
Read next
Kruise Leeming unsure on Leeds Rhinos captaincy future amid wait for decision
Castleford Tigers announce the signing of promising Leeds Rhinos youngster
Leeds Rhinos squad numbers see substantial changes to senior jerseys
Leigh Leopards hit with major blow as Blake Ferguson departs Super League club
Leeds Rhinos signing Nene Macdonald excited for Rohan Smith and PNG reunion
