A FORMER Bradford Bulls star is to retire at the end of the season, after over 15 years at the highest level.

Versatile forward Matt Cook currently plays in the Championship for Widnes, but spent years in Super League with the likes of Castleford, London Broncos and Hull KR.

It all began at Bulls though, who he signed for as a 17-year-old in December 2003 from Saracens, switching rugby codes in the process.

Cook made his Super League debut for Bulls in March 2005 against St Helens, before featuring in the World Club Challenge win over Australian outfit Wests Tigers the following year.

Later in 2006, he made two appearances for England, his only international caps, against France and Tonga.

He had a brief loan spell at Cas in 2008, but returned to making 16 appearances for Bradford in his final season there in 2009.

He left to join Hull KR ahead of the 2010 campaign, and he spent two seasons at Craven Park before joining Broncos.

They were relegated from Super League alongside Bulls in 2014, with Cook subsequently departing to join Cas on a permanent deal.

He made over 100 appearances for them, before leaving in August 2020 to drop down to the Championship with Widnes.

He made his debut for them against Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup this March, but after an injury-hit season, he has decided the time is now right to hang up his boots.

His Widnes team-mate Paul Clough has also announced his retirement at the end of this season.

Cook is set to sit this weekend's game against his old team Bradford out through injury, but Clough should be in the 17-man squad.