Hear me out here. I will begin with an admission that in my time watching the NRL (14 years), I have never seen a player come from relative obscurity to become the Origin and Kangaroos star we see today like Damien Cook.
It is truly a bat out of hell effort, a turnaround from fringe first grader to starting Kangaroo hooker in less than 12 months.
So why would I dare challenge this energetic Rabbitoh? Well I think he will suffer from a few key changes going on around him.
Firstly, I think Seibold’s influence can’t be understated here. Cook’s rise tracked along nicely with that of Seibold and his (now ex) Bunnies.
He gave Cook clear structure to his role and guidance. Wayne Bennett is no slouch, but in my time watching the Broncos over the years we haven’t seen such a dynamic ball running hooker make a mark at the Broncos.
You could argue that Tony Milford plays a similar style but in a different position in all fairness, I also would argue that his running game was better at the Raiders anyway.
In short I think Bennett will understandably have some teething issues to begin with and I think Damien’s role will be clouded.
Damien Cook of the Rabbitohs evades Billy Slater (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
McInnes hit the ground running the beginning of last year. He was laying on tries, missing no tackles, making breaks (no one does that element better than Cook though) and getting his forwards a lovely roll on.
As a Dragons fan this statement has transcended any slight déjà vu, we always dominate the first half of the year and then after Origin we slump.
McInnes was well and truly on the downward escalator of form as Cook was on the ascending. I mention this because people forget that when McInnes is on he has far more in his artillery than just ball running.
My second reason for Cook losing his rep jerseys is the NRL’s focus on the ruck itself. This has a lot to with ruck speeds.
Cook was really flying whilst the refs were heavily penalising slower play the balls and he could run through tired forwards trying to get back to marker.
This heavy handed ruck focus softened, a lot! It was met with a lot of media scrutiny and I for one actually didn’t mind a happy medium of a few more penalties for this.
So his time to dart through the ruck, the way he does better than anyone else, will be shortened.
This plays into McInnes’ favour in my opinion. He setup a number of tries with deft kicks into the in-goal, amazing service from ruck and his defence is excellent.
He is just that slightly bigger body that can handle the slower and crammed environments; he can put on a hit and get enough momentum to get a hand free for an offload.
So I will sum up here. I think McInnes will nab Cook’s jersey. Cook will lose them because his key influencer in Seibold has left, team’s will have begun to work him out in the off season and the ruck speed will slow negating his skills.
McInnes will win them because he has a settled coaching structure, more skills in his arsenal, the slower ruck will favour those skills and lastly I think people forget how good he was for the beginning of last year.
William W
Roar Rookie
What a load of Rubbish as McInnes couldn’t even beat Cook for the Rabbitohs Jersey so McInnes turned his tail up and bolted out the back door. McInnes wasn’t even prepared to stay and fight for his spot. It was way easier going to the Dragons then staying at the Rabbitohs. The general public and the NSW and Australian selectors have it spot on that Cook is the man for all seasons.
Kenw
Guest
Your last sentence sums it all up. Both good hookers, McInnes is sharper with the ball, Cook much lighter on his feet. Who has a better season? Depends on whether the Burgii are holding on to the ball, or whether Saints pack are playing their 80% game or their 120% game. It's a moot point anyway though, as all have said, Cook got the points last year and did a good job in the rep jerseys. He would need a terrible start to the year to lose the spot on form.
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
Not much love for your hypothesis I'm afraid. I can't see Cooky being displaced. He has that blistering speed off the mark that no other hooker has. Maybe he doesn't do the other stuff well but it's his attack that made him special in 2018. McInnes? Good player and he'll give you 40 tackles a game, but he won't turn a game on his own. Cook can.
Don Aprile
Roar Rookie
Have to agreed db....think he should be first cab off the rank.
Nat
Roar Guru
That's terrible recruitment strategy. Lichaa has had opportunity under 2 coaches now and didn't perform up to standard (IMO). He is quite strong in defense so unless the idea is to have JMK as the primary utility after the first 25mins for some attacking options... But still, losing Woolford and Cleeland is massive for their depth.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Unfortunately not Don. The Dogs have offloaded the ton of potential Zac Woolford instead. Not to mention Josh Cleeland
db
Guest
If Jake Friend plays next year like he did in this year's grand final, he could be considered.
Louis McIntyre
Roar Guru
While the title made me laugh (both for being super corny and for a suggestion that seemed ridiculous), you have actually made some well supported claims. Despite this, Cook has enough runs on the board to keep his rep jerseys. You would imagine Freddy will be loyal to the players that won him the series last year and it will take an injury or off field incident for Cook to lose his spot.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
I expect Cook to be the most expensive player on Supercoach. It is true that coaches will work him out, and that was underlined when NZ played Australia, but he is not just a DH runner, and I don’t see the Burgiiis going anywhere so he will continue to get a great platform. The more interesting question is who will play 9 for Qland? If Friend can replicate his GF game he is a moral.
Don
Roar Rookie
I thought you were offloading Licha Barry? It’ll be interesting to see who gets the QLD SOO gig this year too. McCullough looks out of his depth there. Maybe Granville if he can find his 2017 form or Ben Hunt?
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
I'm a dragon's fan have been for over 60 years and McInnes will never play origin at no9 and i don't think Cook will do all that well in the long run either but he will definately be there in 2019. I hope no Dragon player's make origin next year i want them for the team that pays them the big bucks to win comps not games like origin who don't give a damn about the player's i'd prefer to get rid of origin altogether .
Paul
Roar Guru
I think a lot of the onus for Cook's on filed play will rest with how well he learns to read the game. He's good now at making dummy half but if he wants to really step it up, he needs to learn when to employ various types of kicks passes etc. He has the skills, but it's more about reading the game better. Ditto for McInnes. I think it might come down to who gets there first and I suspect Cook will, simply because he has a better coach in Bennett
Shane
Guest
I think the 1st line of this article speaks volumes for both the credibility of the article and the author themself. Been watching NRL for 14 years.......well, that gives you real experience and overall knowledge. Add to that, a Dragons fan.......SAY. NO. MORE.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sharks fan predicts Brailey will have a big year Manly fan predicts Koriasau will have a big year Ok here goes... I reckon Michael Lichaa will....bwahahaha...sorry, couldn’t do it
steveng
Roar Rookie
I don’t think Bennett has any worries with his number 9 positions, irrespective of and if Cook gets injured or slumps in form, he can easily slot Cameron Murray into that position and Cam can do just as good a job. Murray is a relentless and devastating runner from dummy half and a prolific opportunist wherever he is positioned, he’s shown that all throughout 2018. I rate him just as highly as Cook. It will be interesting to see how Cook pans out under Bennett, as both are very much looking forward to working with each other in 2019 and I think that Cook signing a 5 year deal had allot to do with Bennett coaching the Bunnies.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I Cook plays anywhere as well as he did for the first half and more of the 2018 season then he's a certainty. If he plays like he did at the end he'll be under a lot of pressure. A forgotten figure here is Api Korasau from Manly who was being looked at by the selectors at the start of 2018. If manly do well in 19 he could well come in to calculations.
Don
Roar Rookie
Understand that watching footy for 14 you didn’t get to see him but when Bennett started the Broncos he had a slow tough type in Greg Conescu (turtle). Soon after he had Kerrod Walters at hooker who was very fast and took advantage of any backpedaling defence. Over the years Bennett had complimented his hookers with a utility type coming off the bench like; John Plath, Philip Lee, John Driscoll, Shaun Berrigan etc. I think he knows what to do with a guy like Cook. Cook’s impact will be determined by the Burgess brothers. The twins went off the boil towards the end of 2018.
Higgo
Roar Rookie
I like McInnes. He is a tough and very solid hooker. But Cook has that and some. His speed at another dimension to the game that McInnes just can't match. As the incumbent hooker i can't see Cook being overlooked. However, if injury was to rule Cook out, I am sure McInnes would do NSW proud.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I don't think McInness will rep next year. Cook is on his own level now and as an incumbent he would have to have a serious crash in form or injury. Besides that I hope he doesn't rep as Saints need all their playing stock on deck in good condition. I'd be happy if Saints come out winning and no players represent. As for ruck speed Cook did take advantage of the crack down and looked good. I don't know if anymore is happening with reducing the number of replacements down to six, but if it does happen Cook will have a picnic as the 120kg monoliths drag themselves back onside. McInness will benefit too but Cook has the edge on him with speed off the mark.
Nat
Roar Guru
I agree that up until Origin it was a close run race but I would argue Cook maintained better form throughout the season. The PTB crackdown and subsequent backflip had an effect on both and Cam went back into his shell where Cook, now more intensely marked, picked his runs and has a lightening quick first couple of steps to beat the markers that Cam doesn't have. Service I would rate on par. Further I don't believe Bennett's reign will inhibit Cook as the old coach is best known for letting players maximise their skill set and after watching Cook's star rise in 2018, I doubt he will restrain him - if he sees it go for it. Like anything halves related though, it is really dependent on the forwards doing their job. Souths were able to maintain the rage for a lot longer than Mary's men so Cook was able to shine.