Sorry _G-Dog_ ... but you've been given the "Blame Des" version of events, in order to throw shades off the real issue.
Here is exactly what went on, from Damien Cook himself.
From Damien Cook himself:
https://www.playersvoice.com.au/damien-cook-three-times-thought-was-over/#7IC7EypvhmuAzPbR.97
I actually went to the Bulldogs hoping to get a crack at fullback, but Des said, ‘We’ll start off training you at hooker and see what happens’.
Michael Ennis was still there at the time and I only got two first-grade games in my first year – one as a starter and the other off the bench. And even though Ennis was leaving at the end of the season, the Bulldogs were bringing Michael Lichaa from Cronulla for 2015. I got stuck behind Lichaa. Des would always say I was going well in NSW Cup and that I’d be next in if there was an injury, but you don’t wish that on anyone.
It was getting towards the end of the season and I hadn’t played any first grade. Canterbury hadn’t made an offer to re-sign me and no other club had come in. Again, for the third time, I thought it was all over for me.
After 23 rounds of the 2015 season, I had played a total of four first-grade games for two clubs in three seasons. I was 24 years old by this time. The older you get, the harder it is to keep snaring deals.
Then Lichaa got a season-ending injury. It was unfortunate for him, particularly with the team heading for the finals, but that’s the way it goes in footy sometimes. Someone had to play in his place and it was me. It turned out to be the biggest break I’ve had in footy.
I came in as starting hooker for round 24 against the Rabbitohs and had a great game, scoring our first try and setting up another in a 32-18 win. I scored a try in each of our wins in the last two rounds as well. We beat the Dragons in the first week of the finals and then got eliminated by the Roosters.
Souths made me an offer. There was an opening there with Issac Luke leaving for the Warriors. Then, the Bulldogs made me an offer to stay. Nothing had happened before this.
I met with Madge Maguire at the Rabbitohs. I’d watched players like John Sutton, Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis since I was a teenager and admired them. Now I had the chance to play alongside them. That was enough for me. I signed for Souths and I haven’t looked back since.
Mr I this article you've posted only further sheds light on the old regime's incompetency.
The offer to extend Cook's contract should have been made immediately after his first MOM first game against Souths.
His ability to add attacking spark to a stale plodding gameplan was overwhelming and it was clear as day.
The outcry by Dogs fans started immediately to re-sign him so there was plenty of time to do so before Cook signed with Souths.
I wrote to Castle pleading with her to keep Cook (who wanted an extension) but she replied that they had every confidence in Lichaa and that we didnt have funds to offer Cook more as a second stringer...
Your article simply highlights the incompetency by that collective old lot to recognise footballers...and Turvey is acknowledging that now because of the damage done by handing over so much of the decision making to Dib and Despot Hasler....and Cook is a lovely guy who wouldn"t dump on the club by complaining of his treatment.
His girlfriend was at pains on social media at the time to explain to disgruntled fans that he only left because he was made feel wanted and chased by Souths and offered more money and Bulldogs were uninterested...even though he wanted to stay if given the same opportunities.
This issue is ALL about recognising potentially outstanding players when they get an opportunity and admitting that Hasler got it horribly wrong and Dib let him and that's what Steve Mortimer is pointing out.
