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There are those memorable moments in rugby league when you see a player for the first time.
They have this aura and charisma about themselves – something that is so captivating as a fan you know they are going to turn out as a special player.
This was the case when I first watched Damien Cook. I remember the start of his career so clearly at the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
Des Hasler gave him the nod after 14 rounds of the NRL Telstra Premiership, and through into the finals of 2015. His speed was electric and his passing game was on point – you just knew the potential was there.
With his move to the Rabbitohs vying for more opportunity in first grade, came another obstacle in Robbie Farah who joined the foundation club in 2017 after the infamous feud with Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor.
At the time, I was sure that Damien Cook was a shoe-in for the starting hooker role after Farah performed poorly in his final few months.
Then, the team lists were published on Tuesday afternoon and I could not believe that Farah was starting.
South went on to win only nine of their 24 games and finish at 12th position. They lacked the spark for points in the 2017 season, some would say due to the loss of their inspirational captain Greg Inglis for the season.
Fast forward 12 months, Michael Maguire is sacked and in comes Anthony Seibold as head coach.
Sacking the coach would not suffice if the Bunnies were to become the premiership threat they once were. There had to be player movements and from Round 1 we got that.
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In came Damien Cook for the start of the 2018 season, and after watching him in the trial games and the Charity Shield, he was destined to turn the tables at the Rabbitohs.
18 weeks into the season, South sit at the top of the table with 13 wins and four losses – most of those wins can be credited to the incredible form of Cook.
With the Burgess boys laying the platform, the young aggressive edge back-rower, Angus Crichton and the South Sydney veteran, John Sutton, there is a striking similarity to the 2014 premiership winning South Sydney forward pack where Cook can weave his magic.
I have never seen someone at hooker have that has a blinding pace and can bear that much of a defensive workload at the same time.
Now averaging 44 tackles a game and a whopping 100 metres to go with the 80 minutes he plays week in week out, look out for the ‘Cookie Monster’ as he is affectionately known by fans.
He will lead South Sydney to their 22nd premiership in their history just like he did with the NSW Blues this year.
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