IT'S one thing being a chip off the old block, but Matt Cook (pictured) quite literally followed in his father's footsteps this week.

Matt's dad Les, who played for Oldham RLFC back in the 1980s, is now a keen follower of his son's career and rarely missed a game.

He was in the stands an usual when Matt scored a crucial try as London Broncos edged past minnows Batley 22-16 to secure a Challenge Cup quarter-final tie at Huddersfield Giants.

Matt said: “It was nice to have my dad there to see me score a try. He said to me after the game he thought he scored in exactly the same spot for Oldham against Batley back in his playing days.

“My dad was a hooker, whereas I play in the second row. I've obviously not inherited any of his passing skills – I'm more of a ball up the jumper type of player.

“I played a bit of rugby union when I was younger and was at Saracens for a while, and it was a tough choice to make between the two codes, but I always enjoyed league more, and with my family links too, it was always going to be league.”

Cook, despite being born in the rugby league heartland of Warrington, in fact started out playing in the academy of the Broncos in their first incarnation, as the family had by then moved south to Milton Keynes.

His career them took him back north to five years with Bradford Bulls and two with Hull Kingston Rovers before his career came full circle with a move back to the Broncos last summer.

Cook will face a former side in the shape of Bradford this weekend, but following their financial troubles, it will be a very different Bulls side to the one he won the World Club Challenge with in 2006.

He said: “It was sad to see what happened with Bradford, but I'm confident they will survive and be here for years to come. The whole rugby league community rallied around them, which was good to see, but it won't stop us trying our hardest to beat them – we need the points more than most.

“We will go into it on the back of a good win at Batley. Not many of the Australian lads will have played in such poor conditions at such a basic ground, but it was real character-building stuff and will help us become stronger as a team.”

Although Sunday's match is a home one at Broncos, they won't be at The Stoop as the club is experimenting with taking a game on the road – to Leyton Orient FC.

Cook added: “The lads are buzzing about it as it will be something different, and hopefully some new faces to put a performance on in front of too. At the end of the day, I don't think the club knows where it wants to be playing next season, so it's vital to test the water in different parts of London.”