Best League to Union convert

taniwharugby

Bert Cooke read one pundit said he was the Cully of his day...all 61.6kg of him!
 
Rugby union career[<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Cooke_(rugby)&action=edit&section=2' title="Edit section: Rugby union career">edit</a>]
Cooke joined the Grafton <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union' title="Rugby union">rugby union</a> club in 1919 and graduated to senior club rugby in 1923. In that same year he made his <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_union_team' title="Auckland rugby union team">Auckland</a> debut and was a reserve for <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team' title="New Zealand national rugby union team">New Zealand</a> against <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_rugby_union_team' title="New South Wales rugby union team">New South Wales</a>. He was then part of the 1924â€“1925 "<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invincibles_(rugby_union)' title="The Invincibles (rugby union)">Invincibles</a>" side that toured Great Britain. He again played for the All Blacks in 1925 and 1926 but withdrew from the 1928 tour of South Africa for business reasons.<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-abs-2'>[2]</a> He did play twice in 1928 for New Zealand against New South Wales before making his last Test appearances in 1930 against Great Britain.
Cooke played for the North Island in 1931 and spent 1932 with <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawke's_Bay_Rugby_Union' title="Hawke's Bay Rugby Union">Hawke's Bay</a>, before switching codes. Cooke also represented <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wairarapa_Bush_Rugby_Football_Union' title="Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union">Wairarapa</a> and <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Rugby_Football_Union' title="Wellington Rugby Football Union">Wellington</a> while playing rugby union.<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-Statistics_at_espnscrum.com-3'>[3]</a> He finished his rugby union career with 121 tries in 131 first class matches.<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-abs-2'>[2]</a>
Rugby league career[<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Cooke_(rugby)&action=edit&section=3' title="Edit section: Rugby league career">edit</a>]
Cooke joined the <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Rovers' title="Richmond Rovers">Richmond Rovers</a> club in the <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Rugby_League' title="Auckland Rugby League">Auckland Rugby League</a> competition in 1932 and made an immediate impact, racing away for three tries in the inter-island game only weeks later.<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-akl100-4'>[4]</a> He was selected for <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_league_team' title="New Zealand national rugby league team">New Zealand</a> that year against the <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_Lions' title="Great Britain Lions">Great Britain Lions</a>. Cooke also represented <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_league_team' title="Auckland rugby league team">Auckland</a> and captained New Zealand in two Test matches against <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_rugby_league_team' title="Australia national rugby league team">Australia</a> in 1935.<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-5'>[5]</a><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-Statistics_at_rugbyleagueproject.org-6'>[6]</a>
He coached <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_league_team' title="Auckland rugby league team">Auckland</a> in 1936.<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-akl100-4'>[4]</a>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby'>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby</a>)

Sneakdefreak

<div>League to Union: Brad Thorn</div>
<div>Union to League: Brad Thorn</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There....done.</div>

Sneakdefreak

Currently playing:
 
League to Union: Nehe Milner-Skudder
Union to League: Tohu Harris

Baron Silas Greenback

SBW is the best for me.
Plus has he bought a skill set with him that was a true step up.
Miles ahead of Robinson, and slightly ahead of BBBT

Glath

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="584428" data-time="1464738032">
<div>
Can't really look past Robinson and Thorn, who's the best that went the other way?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Dally Messenger.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584466" data-time="1464744868">
<div>
SBW is the best for me.
Plus has he bought a skill set with him that was a true step up.
Miles ahead of Robinson, and slightly ahead of BBBT
</div>
</blockquote>

Well Robinson was a better stepper and much faster. Thorn was better at every single facet of forward play.
 
But of course, that means nothing up against SBW. You win.

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584461" data-time="1464742910">
Bert Cooke read one pundit said he was the Cully of his day...all 61.6kg of him! 
Rugby union career[<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Cooke_(rugby)&action=edit&section=2">edit</a>] 
Cooke joined the Grafton <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union">rugby union</a> club in 1919 and graduated to senior club rugby in 1923. In that same year he made his <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_union_team">Auckland</a> debut and was a reserve for <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team">New Zealand</a> against <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_rugby_union_team">New South Wales</a>. He was then part of the 1924â€“1925 "<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invincibles_(rugby_union)">Invincibles</a>" side that toured Great Britain. He again played for the All Blacks in 1925 and 1926 but withdrew from the 1928 tour of South Africa for business reasons.<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-abs-2">[2]</a> He did play twice in 1928 for New Zealand against New South Wales before making his last Test appearances in 1930 against Great Britain. 
Cooke played for the North Island in 1931 and spent 1932 with <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawke's_Bay_Rugby_Union">Hawke's Bay</a>, before switching codes. Cooke also represented <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wairarapa_Bush_Rugby_Football_Union">Wairarapa</a> and <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Rugby_Football_Union">Wellington</a> while playing rugby union.<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-Statistics_at_espnscrum.com-3">[3]</a> He finished his rugby union career with 121 tries in 131 first class matches.<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-abs-2">[2]</a> 
Rugby league career[<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Cooke_(rugby)&action=edit&section=3">edit</a>] 
Cooke joined the <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Rovers">Richmond Rovers</a> club in the <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Rugby_League">Auckland Rugby League</a> competition in 1932 and made an immediate impact, racing away for three tries in the inter-island game only weeks later.<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-akl100-4">[4]</a> He was selected for <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_league_team">New Zealand</a> that year against the <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_Lions">Great Britain Lions</a>. Cooke also represented <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_league_team">Auckland</a> and captained New Zealand in two Test matches against <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_rugby_league_team">Australia</a> in 1935.<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-5">[5]</a><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-Statistics_at_rugbyleagueproject.org-6">[6]</a> 
He coached <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_league_team">Auckland</a> in 1936.<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-akl100-4">[4]</a> <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby</a>)</blockquote>
 
Where the old centre point building was in masterton there used to be a menswear shop, my old man said the Wairarapa rugby union paid to set Cooke up in the shop to get him to come and play for them .

SammyC

That schoolboy "superstar" that Canesforlife was hyping a couple of months back will be the best of all :)
 
Nelson someone?

Hooroo

Muntz?

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="584483" data-time="1464747802">
<div>
Muntz?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Ha Ha

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="584483" data-time="1464747802">
<div>
Muntz?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Well he was springfields star quarterback until Homer dropped him for Bart :)

Rancid Schnitzel

Tana was a leagie wasn't he? When did he first play union?

Baron Silas Greenback

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="584469" data-time="1464745126">
<div>
Well Robinson was a better stepper and much faster. Thorn was better at every single facet of forward play.
 
But of course, that means nothing up against SBW. You win.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
Are you being intentionally dim?
 
The skill step he bought was the off load, that whilst used in rugby before was a truly a leap above what union had seen before.
People had stepped like Robinson before. And BBBT bought what skill that rugby had never seen before? BBBT was a excellent AB with many fine characteristics.
 
You can disagree as much as you like, but at least try and follow other peoples points before making dumb comments.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584496" data-time="1464753240">
<div>
Are you being intentionally dim?
 
The skill <strike>step</strike> set he <strike>bought</strike> brought was the off load, that whilst used in rugby before was <strike>a</strike> truly a leap above what union had seen before.
People had stepped like Robinson before. And BBBT bought what skill that rugby had never seen before? BBBT was a excellent AB with many fine characteristics.
 
You can disagree as much as you like, but at least try and follow other peoples points before making dumb comments.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
No, I'm disagreeing with you and you're going on the offensive and being insulting. What a massive surprise.
 
Until SBW achieves what those two did year upon year I might save the jizz fest for you if that's ok. I'm sure I remember Jonah being a terrific offloader when he wasn't trampling or running around guys but I guess I imagined that.
 
I corrected your post for you as well. Hope you don't mind.

canefan

Michael O'Connor had a very good league career for a rugby convert

Baron Silas Greenback

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="584502" data-time="1464756903">
<div>
No, I'm disagreeing with you and you're going on the offensive and being insulting. What a massive surprise.
 
Until SBW achieves what those two did year upon year I might save the jizz fest for you if that's ok. I'm sure I remember Jonah being a terrific offloader when he wasn't trampling or running around guys but I guess I imagined that.
 
I corrected your post for you as well. Hope you don't mind.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Achieve what they did? Well that is a different argument entirely. Way to move the goal posts and argue about something I never said. BBBT has arguably achieved more, but I dont think so as winning 2 world cups trumps all IMO. As for Robinson... I would be fascinated to see what argument could be made that he achieved more.
 
And your 'jizz' comment is pathetic. I simply said that I think SBW was a better convert to union because his a particular skill set he bought across is at a new level... 
 
And good luck convincing anyone that Lomu was as good at off loading as SBW. Lomu had many incredible traits, and he could off load, but not at the level of SBW.
 
Just because I think SBW was a better convert than Robinson and BBBT does not mean I think they were rubbish or that I think SBW is the best rugby player. 
 
But least I know you were not intentionally being dim.

Rancid Schnitzel

It's really hard to rate SBW in relation to the others because he hasn't been with the ABs for very long at any one time and has never been first choice. His only full seasons were in 2011 and 2015 and he was always a bench option. Now we get to see what he can achieve with 3 straight seasons of just union. I think we'll get a much better indication after that.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584509" data-time="1464759852">
<div>
Achieve what they did? Well that is a different argument entirely. Way to move the goal posts and argue about something I never said. BBBT has arguably achieved more, but I dont think so as winning 2 world cups trumps all IMO. As for Robinson... I would be fascinated to see what argument could be made that he achieved more.
 
And your 'jizz' comment is pathetic. I simply said that I think SBW was a better convert to union because his a particular skill set he bought across is at a new level... 
 
And good luck convincing anyone that Lomu was as good at off loading as SBW. Lomu had many incredible traits, and he could off load, but not at the level of SBW.
 
Just because I think SBW was a better convert than Robinson and BBBT does not mean I think they were rubbish or that I think SBW is the best rugby player. 
 
But least I know you were not intentionally being dim.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Well yeah, that was the whole point in the thread. If SBW has a great few years perhaps he'll get there.

Baron Silas Greenback

Well maybe you should have been more accurate in your thread title and OP.
 
Because you just said best, not who has achieved more. 
 
But lets go with your achievement criteria then.
How has Robinson achieved more than SBW? (is there where I accuse you of jizzing over Robinson?)

antipodean

I would not be at all surprised to see the Blues win another title within the next three years.

The Silver Fern

Best League to Union convert