Damien Cook being chased by Souths

[jon50n]

[h=1]South Sydney Rabbitohs make play for Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Damien Cook[/h]DateSeptember 26, 2015 - 10:00PM

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[h=3]Adrian Proszenko[/h][h=4]Chief Rugby League Reporter[/h]View more articles from Adrian Proszenko
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In demand: Canterbury hooker Damien Cook could be on his way to the Rabbitohs. Photo: Tony Feder​

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South Sydney have made a play for Canterbury hooker Damien Cook in a move that ends speculation they are chasing unwanted Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah.
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire met with Cook, who is a free agent, during the week. The pacey dummy half was a relative unknown until he stepped in for the injured Michael Lichaa in the lead up to the finals. Cook's stocks have risen significantly since, attracting the interest of NRL and Super League clubs.
In Canterbury's final five appearances of 2015, Cook scored four tries, set up two, averaged 49.6 tackles per match at a tackle efficiency of 90 per cent and ran for an average of 42 metres. The performances have piqued the interest of the Rabbitohs, who are losing New Zealand international Issac Luke to the Warriors.
South Sydney already have hooker Cameron McInnes on their books and it was thought he would get first crack at the No.9 jersey now that Luke has departed. McInnes had a chance to show his wares filling in for the suspended Luke late in the season but, like the rest of the Souths forward pack, struggled to impose himself in a disappointing end to their premiership defence.
While Maguire also has Paul Carter to call on, the premiership-winning coach is keen to bolster his depth in the position and views Cook as player who will fit into his structure.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler had no hesitation in promoting Cook from the NSW Cup once Lichaa was ruled out for the season and the club is keen to retain him. But after investing heavily in Lichaa, it's unlikely Canterbury can offer Cook the funds and the first-grade opportunities of other suitors.
Cook began his NRL career at St George Illawarra but made just two first-grade appearances before switching to Belmore. The 24-year-old made only two more at the Bulldogs until his late-season call up, taking his total to nine.
In the past the former beach sprinter pulled beers at Helensburgh Tradies to supplement his income, but he is likely to get a hefty pay rise after proving he belongs in the NRL.
"I've had to be patient," Cook said in a recent interview. "I've always wanted to play NRL and I won't stop, I'll play as long as I can and play as many games as I can. I'm just enjoying it at the moment.
"That's why I go to training every day, hoping I get another run."
Farah, whose brother is the physiotherapist at South Sydney, has been linked to a move to Redfern. However, the latest developments suggest the club is looking in another direction. As revealed by Fairfax Media, the Dragons could be an option for the NSW hooker, although his preference is to dig in and see out the final two years of his Tigers contract.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...amien-cook-20150926-gjvj46.html#ixzz3mqpPI43W
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[Dognacious]

To be expected he will get some nibbles. He showed some talent and isnt a FG starter with us unless Lichaa is out. TBH he showed more in the few matches he played than Lichaa did all year. Id be shopping around Lichaa, we dont need him. I hope they find a way to keep Cook.

 

[The DoggFather]

He won't leave.

 

[Mr Invisible]

Bullshit article with no quotes. That journo is a South's tragic.

1. Damien Cook has a full set of teeth.
2. Damien Cook does not have a criminal record.
3. Who wants to go to a club to play NSW Cup behind 2 other hookers, AND who dump you after your shifty coach gets caught out as a hack in the finals series.
4. Who wants to play for a club that has clear issues with their players bashing their wives and taking drugs, and it's all swept under the carpet.

Summary: Damien Cook is too good a player to go to South's, so **** OFF FAGUIRE.

Typical of them though.. If you can't win, just buy another player.

 

[The DoggFather]

Plus Cook isn't a junkie who doesn't hit women, so he will never fit in.

 

[The DoggFather]

PS look at that ***** head, he has that head you want to repeatedly smash into a brick wall.

 

[Moedogg]

Why would he go to Souths to be another depth player.

 

[south of heaven]

Cook could be a real asset to our squad , I hope they give him a good offer and a fair chance to prove himself in fg somewhere.
His work ethic and determination could rub off on some of our boys

 

[habs]

Why were the earlier threads deleted?

 

[Dogtime]

To be expected he will get some nibbles. He showed some talent and isnt a FG starter with us unless Lichaa is out. TBH he showed more in the few matches he played than Lichaa did all year. Id be shopping around Lichaa, we dont need him. I hope they find a way to keep Cook.

So should he be the starting hooker with us next year in your opinion? I say yes...shop Liccha...hes been an absolute dud. As Brandy said on Matty Johns show ...the bulldogs attacking problems start from dummy half. The experiment with Liccha failed but Des will refuse to admit it and lose Cook instead.

As for the comments about Souths - Anasta was a Souths junior, we got McCarthy and Gary Stevens from Souths, and lost Roy Asotasi to Souths when we were over the cap. We all know we have had our own share of criminals and wife bashers so wake up guys...let he who is perfect cast the first stone.

 

[EXPLORER]

To be expected he will get some nibbles. He showed some talent and isnt a FG starter with us unless Lichaa is out. TBH he showed more in the few matches he played than Lichaa did all year. Id be shopping around Lichaa, we dont need him. I hope they find a way to keep Cook.

I agree,
Cook shows more than lichaa has,
I th No he is faster, stronger, and better in most areas of the game than lichaa, and would be my first choice at number 9,
Timing is everything
Unfortunately for us, Cook is free agent and lichaa is under contract, forcing us to stick with lichaa and let cook go,
As was the case with hodkinson,
We had to let him go as Reynolds and mbye were still under contract at the time hodkinson was negotiating,

Shame we can't keep him as a rotating hooker roll, but des wants a 4 man forward rotation due to our forwards being fat and unfit,
Btw when des keeps a fresh forward on the bench till the last 15 minutes I don't see why he can't replace that forward with a rotating hooker,
I trust des knows more than me about the team and footy so I trust his judgment,

 

[Boxer]

What's the differents if cook start or lichaa starts they both will follow that shity game plan, look at cooks last 2 games he didn't do much. If des the stubborn **** would allow our boys to play I think we can do some damage.

 

[south of heaven]

Whats with all the lichaa hate what is he expected to do in his first full year of f.g. ? His defence load was pretty intense and who knows what he was allowed to do . Was he let of his leash ?
Sure cook has pricked people's ears up and has shown enough to earn a place in our squad.

 

[piggy]

How the hell did hasler not see cooks talent and signed licha for around the 300k mark.....ffs wake up hasler......and those of u who say he wont go to souths dont be so sure......they have money to spend with luke gone to the warriors...
...i would shop licha around to another club.....they cannot let cook go.......seriously what the hell is happening with recruitment at our club?

 

[Boxer]

Whats with all the lichaa hate what is he expected to do in his first full year of f.g. ? His defence load was pretty intense and who knows what he was allowed to do . Was he let of his leash ?
Sure cook has pricked people's ears up and has shown enough to earn a place in our squad.

They are both different styles lichaa is more of a camron smith and cook is a Isaac sook lol

 

[c-b-b]

Des will kill his game anyway. Won't be allowed to kick or run all he will be expected to do is pass and tackle. He won't play FG because Des won't admit he's wrong with Lichaa.

For example if Souths offer him $120k and we offer $80k and he is going to play Nsw cup either way why would people expect he is going to stay. Plus at another club maybe he has a shot at first grade due to his ability.

 

[Bad Billy]

Cook won't go. He's less of a chance to play fg at souffs.

 

[B-Train]

I hope he stays and think he will but he'd get more of a chance at Souths with Luke gone. Although Cook has proven already he's a better option than Lichaa, Des will no doubt bury him in reserves all of next season. At least McGuire gives guys a chance and drops people. Probably too much but at least he drops players and gives others a go.

 

[piggy]

I wouldnt bet that he wont go......he would get more of an opportunity to play first grade at the rabbits than the dogs......we had our future hooker in nsw cup and hasler couldnt see his potential.......everyone has had enough of our shit recruitment decisions

 

[habs]

Cook gets the nod if we are going to persist with substandard halves.