Cooke: Last year’s defeat driving us on
JACK Cooke says the memory of last year’s Premiership Rugby Cup final defeat is being used as motivation by London Irish ahead of today’s showpiece clash against Exeter.
Irish and Worcester couldn’t be separated after extra-time in Brentford in 2022 with the scores tied at 25-25, but the Warriors lifted the trophy on tries scored.
It left Irish still seeking their first piece of silverware since the 2002 Powergen Cup success, their first and only major title to date.
“We have unfinished business. It was very frustrating how it all ended last year,” admitted blindside flanker Cooke, Irish’s Premiership Cup captain.
“A lot of motivation will be taken from that but ignoring what happened last year, I think there’s enough motivation for the club anyway with it being such a big game.
“A final is a big occasion, we are all buzzing anyway and the fact that it is on St Patrick’s Day weekend will make it even more special for the club.
“It would mean so much for everyone.”
Cooke, 25, wasn’t selected for last year’s final and to lead them to victory this time around would mean the world to him as he has supported the club since he was five years old.
“It means a lot to everyone and everyone has their own motivation but being a supporter and having been a ball boy and mascot when they were at the Madejski and having been a season ticket holder for years, it definitely motivates me,” said the former Ireland U20 international.
“Every time I pull on the shirt is a proud moment for me and my family.
“I always wanted to play for London Irish and I guess imagined playing for London Irish but I never saw myself coming through as a captain.
“But being asked to captain and lead the team is something I do with a lot of pride and I hope by the end of Sunday we will be lifting the Cup.”
With an Irish mother and an English father, the Cooke family had an interest on both caps when the curtain was brought down on the 2023 Six Nations in Dublin yesterday.
But their full support and thousands others will be behind the same team today as Sloughborn Cooke leads London Irish out at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Irish’s Brentford-based home ground has become something of a fortress and Cooke hopes that record continues.
“I honestly think we have got one of the best stadiums in the league, we are in such a good spot,” he said. “The supporters love coming and we love playing there.
“We are doing our best to make it a fortress and I would like to think no one wants to come here and play us, at Brentford.”
Like most of today’s team, the Premiership Cup has given Cooke a competitive outlet for his talent when opportunities in the league are few and far between.
Henry Arundell went from Premiership Cup to England in the same season and that has inspired fringe players who might have otherwise got frustrated.
Cooke’s only Premiership start was against today’s opponents, so he knows what sort of challenge to expect from Exeter.
“Upfront will be important. You know exactly what Exeter are coming with, they are coming with their maul and they are coming with their physicality and, I think, we need to match that but also we still want to play the way we want to play, we want to throw the ball around and play exciting rugby.”