Peter Cooke blows ‘game on’ for 1000th time

The well-respected arbitrator is set to oversee the Hunter Rugby Premier 2 clash between Wanderers and Merewether Carlton on Saturday 10 July.

“Peter is dedicated and unassuming and you would never have known he is on the threshold of this achievement,” Newcastle Rugby Union Referees Association (NRURA) president Bob Hawes said.

“One, we are unlikely to see again and one we think may be unprecedented nationally and, perhaps, even internationally.

“Our association is delighted Peter’s milestone won’t be going unrecognised and that says much for the respect he has earned on his long pathway as a referee and medical officer.”

Cooke’s journey – and love of sport – began in the under-10s when he played rugby league at Temora Primary School in the state’s south-west.

Moving to Queanbeyan in 1967, he was introduced to rugby from the age of 11 and has never looked back.

He attended the Shore School in Sydney from 1970, playing union in the Shore B team and, in 1972, he obtained his Sydney/NSW Referees Badge thus beginning his career as a referee.

Cooke then ventured to Basser College at the UNSW studying medicine in 1976.

From 1976 to 1980, he refereed Sydney Subbies first grade, followed by a year of officiating in Queenstown, Tasmania.

As his studies took him to other places around the state he continued to referee and often did games in Tamworth and the ACT over the next 12 months.

In 1981, Cooke settled in the Hunter and joined the NRURA.

He remains an active member of the association having given more than 40 years of continuous service both on and off the field, which includes various committee positions such as secretary, vice-president, president and general member.

He was instrumental in the introduction of match payments for referees in the Hunter, too.

Cooke, himself, is proud of his personal record of refereeing four games in one day – under-18s at Walters Park; fourth, second and, finally, filling in for first grade at No. 2 Sportsground.

“It was not unusual for Peter to have regularly officiated two fixtures in a day throughout his early career,” Hawes said.

“He often started with under-18s and then onto grade. But, this is a standard he still maintains even this season.”

“He’s regularly seen refereeing a junior game of a morning and backing up for grade or divisional in the afternoon.”

In 1992, Cooke went on the Referees Interchange to Invercargill, New Zealand, with fellow NRURA life member Bruce Cook.

There, he refereed six matches within nine days, further testament to his fitness and love of the game.

“To this day, Peter has never missed an encounter through injury, and has never pulled out of any referee appointment,” Hawes said.

“Performing as a referee has its challenges, given they’re usually targeted by players and crowd alike when things aren’t going well for their team.

“So, it speaks volumes to Peter’s character that he has stuck this out for 1000 games.

“From when his career first began back in 1972 through to now, he continues to officiate every weekend of the season with 49 years of refereeing now under his belt – and no word of retirement.

“He is a true clubman, congratulations Peter.”

Cooke’s been the head medical officer, too, at many games over the years, including two Test matches in Newcastle; Wallabies v Scotland (2012) and All Blacks v Argentina (2020).