George Gray Cook was a rugby union and rugby league player. Cook played for Horowhenua at rugby union, before moving to Wellington and playing for Wellington before switching codes. He played 2 matches for the New Zealand rugby league team in 1912–13. In so doing he became the 86th player to represent New Zealand at rugby league. He also played rugby league for Wellington, before moving to Auckland and playing for Newton Rangers, Otahuhu and Auckland. He enlisted in the army for World War I and died in France in 1918.
Playing career
Rugby union in Horowhenua
George Cook first began playing rugby union at a senior level around 1907. He was playing for the Kia Toa club and represented Horowhenua in 4 matches against Manawatu, Foxton, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington B. In 1908 he played for Otaki in a match against Levin and scored 2 tries. It was said at the time that he was a player with tremendous pace. He made 3 more appearances for Horowhenua against Hawke's Bay, Wellington B, and Wanganui respectively. In 1909 he played 5 matches for them against Awarua, Palmerston, Manawatu, Wellington, and Wellington B. He scored a try in the match with Manawatu and another against Wellington B.
1910 was Cook's busiest representative season for Horowhenua. He played in a match against Manawatu on July 9 and scored a try. Cook then played for the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua team against New Zealand Māori which they lost 15–6, and Wellington. Later in the season he also played for the same side against Wellington B and scored a try. He played in 5 further matches for the Horowhenua team against Foxton, Manawatu, Foxton again, Hawke's Bay, and finally Manawatu for a second time.
Move to Wellington
In 1911 Cook made a move to Wellington where he joined the St James club. He played 14 games for them during the 1911 season. His form was good enough to gain selection for Wellington in their match with Marlborough on June 22 where he scored 2 tries. He made a further representative appearances for Wellington against North Island Country on 9 August at Athletic Park. He then played against New Zealand Māori on August 12 where he scored a long range try after "Cook dashed in, and gathering the oval, was in an instant making full speed ahead for the goal line. In the exciting race of between eighty and ninety yards, Cook was chased by Autini Kaipara, from whom he gained stride by stride, foot by foot, and finally shook off a beaten pursuer. Then Poananga chimed in, but the St James three-quarter never faltered a moment, and finally scored a brilliant try near the corner". Wellington went on the win the match 26–5 in front of 1,500 at Athletic Park. His last appearance was against Taranaki where he scored another try.
In 1912 he made 12 further appearances for the St James club, scoring 4 tries and kicking a penalty.
Switch to rugby league and Wellington debut
In mid August, Cook made the move to the rugby league code. He joined the Athletic club though he did not play any matches for them as the club season was finished. On August 10 he played for the Wellington side against Auckland. The match was played at Victoria Park in Auckland before a crowd of 5,500. Auckland won the match 16–0. He then played against Rotorua on August 14 and scored a try and kicked 2 conversions in a 24–10 win. Wellington then played the touring New South Wales side where he scored another try. He then played in the Wellington side which drew 14 all with Wanganui at Cooks Gardens.
New Zealand selection
His form for Wellington was good enough to gain selection for the New Zealand side to play the same opponents. He played in the three-quarters alongside Rukingi Reke and Bill Kelly. He was involved in a couple of near try scoring opportunities but New Zealand ultimately lost 18–10 in front of 20,000 spectators at the Auckland Domain.