The speculation regarding the future of Damien Cook is over, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker signing an extension which will see him remain at Redfern until the end of 2023.
According to reports from multiple outlets, the 2018 New South Wales Blues hooker has committed to the club for a further four-year extension, which also includes an upgrade for next season.
The deal is said to be worth a staggering $4.5 million, which will be a just reward for Cook being one of the best players in the game over the last 12 months.
If the reports regarding contract value are correct, it will leave Cook on approximately $900,000 per year, making him one of the richest players in the game.
The hooker has been under constant speculation over the past week about his eventual location, with many reports saying he was going to follow coach Anthony Seibold north to the Brisbane Broncos.
However, Seibold shut those rumours down last night ahead of today’s announcement, with the new contract at South Sydney a staggering show of faith by incoming coach Wayne Bennett, who was moved on from the Broncos over the weekend.
After making his debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2013, Cook found a new lease on life at the Rabbitohs under coach Seibold last season as he racked up strong performance after strong performance, which eventually won him the coveted number nine jersey for the Blues.
He capped off the season by making his debut for the Australian Kangaroos as they played Test matches against Tonga and New Zealand in Auckland.
The signing of Cook is just one more part of the player merry-go-round ahead of the 2019 season, which is finally starting to settle into position following recent moves of Shaun Johnson, Dylan Napa and David Klemmer as pre-season gets underway.
Higgo
Roar Rookie
It is with some difficulty that i say i agree with steveng. The last time i posted on this forum was in response to one of steveng's irrational and emotional rants about a former souths coach whose name i shan't mention. But today i feel somewhat sheepish supporting your post on Cook's efforts in 2017 and 2016. He was given limited opportunities under Maguire, much to mine, and alot of other souths supporters frustration. It seemed in both of those years, it wasn't until the season was gone, that Cook got the opportunity at starting hooker and the team seemed to lift a couple of gears. I wonder if this contributed to Madge being let go. As for McInnes, i respect him greatly as a player. Tough and solid, but i am stoked to see Cook sign on. He has speed and the skills to make him a very good player for a long time, injuries permitting.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m not dirty at all. I’d love to have him...and Klemmer...and the Morris’ but I’m not dirty. I never blow up about players leaving. Good on Cook. It’s been a tough road to get to this point. He hasn’t been a schoolboy prodigy and he’s had to scrap for everything he’s achieved. He’s played for NSW and Australia this year. What’s incredible is 2018 was the first season he’d nailed down a full time starting spot. Amazing achievement and I have absolute respect for him.
Roger
Guest
Exactly my thoughts!
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Disagree. The last time Bennett had a running dummy half at the Broncos in Shaun Berrigan, he won the premiership.
The duad
Guest
I love how everyone falls over themselves with speculation and half truths and total fiction, after reading nonsense in the papers. When are they going to learn that newspapers and the media in general need people to read their stories and watch their shows. They have to get the “scoop” or exclusive first so everyone will rush and buy their story. Remember when Cody walker was “gone” and Reynolds was “out the door”. Burgess nude selfie nonsense. Now the Cook garbage. Just to name a few. The papers are full of fiction one paper in particular. If there is no news then they have nothing to write about. So they have to fill the paper with something to get you hooked. Its all about money. “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story” If you read most stories its full of bias and opinions and very little facts. ie; “fake news.
Major Bumsore
Guest
He’s signed for 5 years , that is unless he decides to leave and go elsewhere in meantime . Gotta love an NRL contract.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Some of his play was great to watch in 18 and he was devastating at times but I think he's hit his peak and that will be his best ever year. I can't remember one highlight play from Cameron Smiths whole career but his game is not something which anyone's been able to shut down often, it's just relentless and effective. NSW could do with the Cookie monster on fire next year but I've got some reservations.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I like our stating XIII however there is not much after that. Depth was scarce enough this season gone, having lost 4 players will make it even more of an issue. Let’s hope Benny can unearth some youngsters. Siebold pretty much only used 14 players at the back end of season.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Haha wow that post is freaking hilarious, I love bunnies supporters. 2 great years? Where did the bunnies finish in 2017? More influential than Smith skater and Cronk? Storm 2017 will go down as one of the most dominant sides in competition history, no competition at all during a season. And you're eating cook?? What happened to him in the finals in 2018? Pretty sure he caught the Storm off guard in one game and was heralded as a god for the bunnies as a result? Everyone now knows stop his fast play the ball, which was done through the finals and bam, he has nothing. No game management at all. The guy is massively over rated, typical media beat up. One half of a good season and this is the result. Good luck to him, I'd love to be proven wrong...but I highly doubt it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Jeez you don't hear of 5 year contracts much these days - though I think Taumololo might have signed a ten year deal which is just mind boggling. Smart move by Cook to lock in his current value for just under a mill a year for the next 5 years. Could go pear shaped for Souths though. Who knows? I remember Terry Campese signed a 6 year contract extension back in 2009 for the Raiders and he did his ACL in a final against the Tigers in 2010 - he was never the same after that and the club had to retire him gracefully when he could no longer run or make covering tackles. Josh Hodgson also signed a 4 year extension and did his ACL not long after playing for England. These things happen - you just hope they won't - but signing long contracts are a risk - for clubs in particular.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Albo, what’s wrong with Reno? And why do we need a halfback? Reno is there for a purpose, he’s no Shawn Johnson, he’s not a Maloney or a Cronk but he is a devastating kicker and points scorer and an up and under try assist specialist. Now let’s see his 2018 stats, 24 appearances, 5 tries, 93 out of 124 attempts at goal at 75% success rate, 5 field goals and a total of 211 overall points. That’s why Adam Reynolds is the Bunnies halfback! Since 2012 Reno has scored 1208 points, appeared 154 times, scored 24 tries and scored 16 field goals, scored 548 goals out of 667 attempts at 82.16%, that is why Adam Reynolds is at the Bunnies.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Firstly, I want to congratulate Cook for sticking with the Bunnies, he is a devastating weapon for us and will get better under Wayne Bennett! But, he has been like that for a long time now, his potential was shown very early on and especially when I first saw him play for the Dogs, he was an absolute weapon, don't know why the Dogs let him go, it was good for the Bunnies thaw! I'm sure that allot of Doggy fans are dirty about that e.g. TB lol but, when he came to the Bunnies, Madge didn't give him a go, he just sat there on the bench with either McInnes or Farah getting a go and was waisted and used in patches. This is great news for the Bunnies (as I would have absolutely hated him playing for the Broncs and Seibold lol) and I hope that they can also secure a contract with Robert Jennings too. Looks good for the Bunnies in 2019, bring it on!
buttery
Roar Rookie
If you look at the way the England no.9 played, then Bennett won't change cooks game.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Good to have you signed up Cooky, would have preferred the Club did 3 years with options to extend etc... Lets hope Cooky continues to go from strength to strength.
CTSTORM
Guest
you are kidding right?
CTSTORM
Guest
The most influential player in the NRL????? one good year, noe 27. Where was he in the last six years.
Albo
Roar Rookie
A good signing as long as they saved some cash for a halfback ?
Matt H
Roar Guru
Kerrod Walters was the last running dummy half Bennett had. that was a while ago. I would like to think that Bennett will adapt to the players he has at his disposal.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
This is a good signing for Souths, even if they have pay a significantly large proportion of their salary cap to secure his services. I personally think he has been the most influential player in the NRL over the past 2 years – more than Smith, Cronk, Thurston, RTS, Slater, Cleary, Morgan, Munster, Tedesco. What ever team he plays in (whether Souths or NSW) they are much more threatening when he is on the ball. However, it will be interesting to see what his role will be under Wayne Bennett. Bennett traditionally prefers more conservative dummy halves – pass first/run second, solid defenders – rather than the speedier run first/pass second options. The most successful Bennett teams have been based around a solid conservative dummy half – Walters, Priddis, Buderis, Dean Young, McCollough. Cook doesn’t fit that mould and I can easily see him becoming frustrated with his role under Bennett’s system. It will be interesting to see whether Bennett changes Cook’s structure, and if so, whether Cook will still be with Souths before his contract expires.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I thought he was leaving.... No I didn't, I just read it from the so-called "experts" in main stream media. He had a great 2018 and lived up to his potential. But it is a gamble, no doubt about it. His speed is his strength and that speed can be wiped out permanently with a leg injury which given his size and the position he plays on the field, is increased dramatically. Good luck to him though.