In 1960 he was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team squad for the 1960 World Cup but did not play in a match.
For the 1961 season Cooke had moved north to Auckland, joining the Papakura club who played as part of Eastern United in the Auckland Rugby League competition.
[4] He also represented Auckland, who defended the Northern Union Cup against Canterbury and the West Coast that year.
At the end of the season Cooke toured Great Britain and France with the Kiwis.
Cooke later moved to Australia and played for Queensland Firsts four times in 1967.