Former NSW hooker opens up on Dragons exit and move to Super League’s Castleford Tigers
Veteran hooker Damien Cook admits it was “dirty” to discover he was no longer wanted at St George Illawarra, but is intent on using his remaining time at the Dragons to avoid the JV’s first wooden spoon.
The 34-year-old former NSW and Kangaroos player was days away from finalizing a new deal when the club paused contract talks with existing players last month after a winless start to the year under manager Shane Flanagan.
Within two weeks Flanagan was out and as defeats piled up Cook realized he was not in the club’s plans.
He has since received an offer from Super League side Castleford Tigers, coached by former Dragons assistant Ryan Carr.
“Recruitment has made it clear that they are looking for some young hookers,” he said ahead of his 250th NRL match against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night.
“We asked a few times and got almost the same response, so I had to let my agent know we needed to look elsewhere and figure something out. Then the next step Ryan Carr got in touch.
“I saw this as a really good opportunity to shake things up, take the family there and have a little adventure. Carry sold ‘Cas Vegas'” [a nickname for Castleford] To me. “The best thing is that I’ve made a decision now and I’m really going to enjoy my time with the Dragons last year.”
Cook’s anticipated departure comes as the Dragons look to make the last-place team more competitive, signing Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater and Warriors quarterback Luke Metcalf in the past three weeks.
Asked if he was angry about it, Cook said: “Definitely in a way, because obviously it involved me as well. When you feel like you’ve given so much to them, when those things happen, it can hurt a little bit.”
“I definitely respected the business side of it, but obviously being involved and emotionally invested in it, it’s been a tough couple of weeks where I’ve been absolutely soiled about the decision. Obviously I wanted to stay – you would have loved to stay here. But the decision has now been made and I’m really excited about it. I’m happy the future is in order and I’m happy that I can really do whatever I can to make sure this club finishes the season well.”
A Helensburgh product, Cook made his debut for the Dragons in 2013 and returned there last year via Canterbury and South Sydney to carve out a decorated career in Australia that includes three State of Origin series wins and the Rabbitohs’ grand final appearance in 2021.
Once a junior beach sprint national champion, his speed out of the open half was his best attribute, but he had to wait until he was 24 to start regularly in the premier class.
“Go back to the last time I was here [in 2013]I had two matches that year. [in] There were also two games in 2014. [In] 2015 [Michael] Lichaa was in Dogs, so I played it all year [in NSW Cup]. “I just thought ‘maybe this is it’,” he said.
“I didn’t think I was going to play in the NRL that year. Then [Lichaa] I got injured and it cost me five games. From there I was noticed by Souths and from there. I bounced around a bit, didn’t really get going until I was 25 or 26.
Given the Dragons’ dire form, few would have given Cook any chance of victory in this landmark match.
Dean Young’s side face the might of the Panthers to close out the Magic Round on Sunday night, and the gap between the best and worst in the competition has rarely gotten wider.
But he argues that the long-term outlook is bright.
“It might sound funny to hear this, but being co-captain for these boys is definitely one of the highlights of my career,” Cook said.
“I know [with] That’s the core group they have here for the future… this club will continue to move in the right direction.
“This is the shit we have to go through right now.”
Chris Barrett is senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Southeast Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age newspapers.Connect with: X or email.
