NEWCASTLE THUNDER have signed New Zealander Sam Cook from York Knights for next season.
The hooker, who can also play at loose-forward or in the halves, joins Bailey Antrobus by heading north.
Cook made two NRL appearances for New Zealand Warriors in 2018 and 2019 and spent two years at York, playing 34 times.
That included 27 last season, and he was their bench hooker in both the 1895 Cup final victory over Featherstone Rovers and the Championship Grand Final defeat to Toulouse Olympique.
“We look forward to Sam turning out for Thunder,” said Graham Steadman, Newcastle’s head coach.
“He brings a great mix of technical skill and high-level experience from the NRL and in the Championship last season with York.
“His versatility will be massive for us as we build a squad capable of competing in the newly-formatted Championship.”
York and Newcastle are developing an ever-closer relationship, with Thunder expected to regularly field players from their Super League partners next year.