Get to know St Helens’ flying winger, Phoebe Hook, as she answers our 20 questions…
1 Two Wembley appearances, two tries there and two winners medals – is that the pinnacle of your career so far?
It’s definitely a highlight! I feel very lucky that being able to do that has come so early in my career as well and I am just looking forward to see what is to come this year.
2 What do Saints need to do to defend their Challenge Cup title and then back in up with Super League success?
We just need to go out there and be ourselves, be Saints and do what we do best. If we play with confidence and enjoy ourselves then we will get the best out of the squad.
3 You’re from Halifax, but play for St Helens – so which is best east or west of the Pennines?
I have to stick to my roots and say east of the Pennines – West Yorkshire – for me. When it comes to the Origin games I am a Yorkshire gal.
4 You started out playing rugby union, what have you noticed the main differences to be between that and league?
In union you don’t have to go back the ten so I definitely struggled with that when I first came to league. I would just be at the back of the ruck and then realise I needed to move. That was the main thing for me to get my head around. But generally as a winger, league isn’t too dissimilar to union.
5 In terms of England, you have been named in the larger train on squads before, but not yet managed to pull on that international shirt yet. Is this the year you’re hoping to get involved in that set-up?
Yes, but we will have to see what happens. It is something I am wanting to do so fingers crossed I can stay injury free this year and get that chance. I will just keep working hard and see where it goes.
6 What do you as a job away from playing rugby league?
I am doing a masters in sports psychology at Manchester Met. I do a few other bits on the side but that is my main occupation, if you can call it that. I have a pretty stacked schedule so there is not much time for anything, I’m here, there and everywhere, but I like it that way.
7 What hobbies do you have outside of the game?
As I say I do a lot but I’m not sure they’d class as hobbies as such. I am also a personal trainer so I do bits and bobs with that, I work in a gym as well working with women’s fitness and lifting their confidence in and around the gym. That is a huge thing I am trying to do at the moment. I think that is something that needs working especially around the Manchester Unis.
8 If you could be on any reality TV show, which would it be?
I would say ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here’ but I’d be really rubbish on it. Bugs, cockroaches and things like that, I just couldn’t do it. But I don’t mind being out in the wilderness so it would probably still be quite a fun experience.
9 What is top of your bucket list?
In a rugby sense I guess England is right up there. But away from rugby I’d like to travel more. I do like travelling and want to get to Australia at some point. My brother lives out there so it would be good to get out there, see him and experience a bit of the Aussie life.
10 Would you consider going out and playing over in Australia?
Maybe in the future.
11 If you could attend any sporting event in the world which would it be?
I do like the Olympics, so I’d probably like to go and see that. I love the athletics so would try to catch some of that, but I used to be a horse rider as well so watching some of the equestrian events would be quite good as well.
12 Is there a star from another sport you admire?
That is actually something that I always struggled with, there was never really anyone I related to. But by coming into rugby league I found those inspiring people. So my team mates, someone like Jodie Cunningham. She is an incredibly hard working sportswoman both on and off the field, so she is up there for me now.
13 What is the one thing you could not live without?
Food and the gym. I do like my food. And technically you probably couldn’t live without either of them!
14 Do you have any game-day superstitions?
Not really, my only superstition is not to do too much. Whenever I have tried to implement something new, something has gone wrong. So I keep it simple, I arrive with my hair all done, so I can just get in, be ready and just relax before going out there.
15 What is the go to song/artist on your music playlist?
Not on mine specifically but as a team it’s ‘Spectrum’ by Florence and the Machine. That came on in our first game at Wembley so that’s become a bit of a team song since then and it gets played before we go out on the field.
16 Where is the most interesting place you have visited on holiday?
I have been to Vietnam over Christmas and that was very different to over here. It was great to see things like their culture and how they live over there. It’s just a beautiful country as well.
17 What annoys you more than anything?
Slow walkers, especially when you’re behind them and in a rush.
18 What is your go-to meal?
It’s probably a clichéd answer but steak, chips, tender stem broccoli and peppercorn sauce. The steak has to be medium rare. That’s just right for me.
19 Which superpower would you most like to have?
Being invisible probably. You could get up to all sorts then and spy on a lot of people.
20 What is your favourite film?
As a throwback, something like ‘Grease’. That’s just a great feel-good film.
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 508 (May 2025)