The New Zealand rugby league community is mourning the passing of one of their greatest players.
Mel Cooke played 22 tests for the Kiwis between 1959 and 1964, an auspicious era that saw New Zealand universally recognised as the top league nation in the world.
Cooke was one of the first inductees into the NZRL's Legends of League (in 1995) and was also named in the Kiwis' Team of the Century in 2007.
One of his greatest years was in 1962, when he led Hornby to championship success, Canterbury to the Northern Union Cup (at the expense of Auckland), South Zone to a victory over North and the Kiwis to back to back record margin wins over Great Britain.
Cooke debuted for Canterbury as a scrum half in 1953, but developed into the finest loose forwards of his era, challenged only by Australia's Johnny Raper. Cooke was a superb cover defender and front on tackler and Raper was an unabashed fan, saying of his rival "He was a punishing tackler who really shook the cobwebs loose if he hit you unexpectedly" (The Kiwis - 100 years of International Rugby League).
On performance over the five seasons from 1960 to 1964 New Zealand were awarded the Courtney Trophy as the premier nation. The Kiwis played 18 games during that period, winning 11 with two draws and five losses. Cooke was the only player to feature in all 18 matches. He was an inspirational leader of the Kiwis from 1962 to 1964, retiring at the end of the 1964 season after leading the Kiwis to a three test whitewash of France.
