LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
As Damien Cook approaches the final year of his contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons, there's potential for him to extend his tenure in the Red V jersey. The 34-year-old joined the team earlier this year after a successful nine-year period with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, during which he established himself as a vital player on the field.
Throughout 24 matches, Cook, a 17-time NSW Blues representative, recorded an impressive 1,018 tackles with a 95% efficiency rate, while also gaining over 1,200 metres on the field. His leadership qualities have been instrumental in guiding younger teammates and fostering their development.
"It's been great. It's worked really well and I love training alongside him," Cook stated, referring to his partnership with fellow dummy-half Jacob Liddle. He highlighted their strategy, saying, "He comes on and just picks the right times to run and that's the plan to try them out a little bit in the middle and then when he comes on we can both attack through the middle and get the forwards going."
Cook believes the duo's tactic is effective, sharing his optimism for the future: "I think it's a great little plan and no doubt we'll tinker it a little bit next year as well. We can change it around and you can always adapt to who starts."
A four-time Australian international, Cook has the potential to continue playing for several more seasons. However, he may shift to a role coming off the interchange bench, allowing the dynamic partnership with Liddle to thrive as the Dragons aim for a successful run in the finals.