Sounds like Benji might return for the Tigers in this one. I don't think that's good news for us.
Training Gallery - Round 9:
https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2020/07/08/training-gallery-round-nine/
From Sporting News,
NSW incumbent Damien Cook bats away Peter Sterling's State of Origin selection call
Rabbitohs rake Damien Cook has responded to Peter Sterling's criticism of his form after the league legend suggested the incumbent NSW Blues hooker's Origin spot could be in jeopardy.
Cook has been a mainstay of Brad Fittler's Origin-winning set up for two years now since arriving at South Sydney and setting the NRL alight with his dynamic ruck speed and mountainous work ethic.
The new six-again rule change that emerged from the COVID-19 stand down was thought to owe favourably to Cook's speed-based game, however statistically the 29-year-old hasn't started the year as well as season's past.
And Sterling, who is on the Blues' selection advisory panel, addressed Cook's struggles early this season in
Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's Wrap.
"I think you've got to say Damien Cook hasn't jumped out of the blocks completely," he said.
"We all thought that the new changes around the ruck area would certainly suit Damien Cook.
"South Sydney haven't been going that well, so maybe Damien is paying the price for the fact that the side aren't going particularly well."
In pointing out Cook's slower start to the year, Sterling highlighted the form shown from Penrith recruit Api Koroisau, who along with
Harry Grant has been the NRL's form hooker throughout the season.
The 13-time NSW Blues great suggested Koroisau's combination with Nathan Cleary could dramatically propel him into Origin selection.
"Api has been a great buy," Sterling added.
"What he's doing through the middle there in taking his forwards forward for the Penrith side, and we keep talking about the mobility of the side, is what's making it very easy for Nathan Cleary to operate.
"Nathan Cleary, we keep talking about how well he's going, he'll probably be the halfback (for NSW) and they look at combinations, club combinations (when picking an Origin side)."
Made aware of Sterling's comments, Cook insisted he was unfazed at the prospect of competition for his Origin spot and defended his form this season for the Rabbitohs.
"To be honest, I've learned from Freddy as much as you can not to read too much into what everyone else is saying,"
Cook told Sky Sports Racing's Big Sports Breakfast.
"There's always going to be competition out there and that's the best thing for you, it brings the best out of players, but you've just got to keep doing your job for your team.
"Personally, for my form at the moment, Wayne's been quite happy with where I'm at and the way I've been building my game each week and the job he wants me to do for the team he says I've been doing it.
"I've just got to continue doing that and those things sort of things take care of themselves."
With this year's Origin series pushed back to November after the NRL grand final,
Fittler has raised the prospect of the selection of players from teams that miss finals being impacted.
Off the back of the form shown by Koroisau and Cleary, Penrith has firmed as serious premiership contenders, sitting in second on the ladder behind Parramatta having lost just the one game as well as drawn with Newcastle.
Meanwhile, South Sydney's form has been fluctuant with their three wins since the competition returned coming against the Warriors, Titans and Bulldogs.
