Huge coup for Rabbitohs as 'crown jewel' signs:
https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2...h-sydney/0587e626-9d47-4828-8f39-29f8f7e88a5c
Hearing conflicting stuff about Trell. Some say he's signed; others say he hasn't yet. I guess I'll just eagerly wait for an official announcement.
From the Daily Telegraph,
I don't think it'll be a difficult decision whether to re-sign Cook after this new deal or not. If his Footy warrants in, then great! Re-sign him and by then he'd be in the twilight of his career. Being the clubman he is, by then, I'm sure he'd take more of a back seat to Pete, who would have hopefully fully emerged by then. If his Footy no longer warrants it, well then you don't offer the extra year, simple as that.
I do agree that we probably have to be a bit careful as to what Pete does but I don't think it'll be a hard decision for the club to sign Cook beyond this, the answer will become pretty clear cut over the next few years.
Rabbitohs face difficult decision after Damien Cook extension
South Sydney are celebrating the first in a trio of contract coups — but it comes with a catch. Read our analysis of the Rabbitohs’ retention plans.
A difficult decision looms in the final season of Damien Cook’s freshly inked contract extension as South Sydney navigate a succession plan for their star hooker.
The Rabbitohs on Friday confirmed Cook had signed a new deal that would keep him at Redfern until the end of 2025.
He is the first of the Rabbitohs’ big three to officially recommit, after The Daily Telegraph on Thursday revealed Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker had also agreed to new three and two-year deals respectively, to be announced early next week.
Cook had been chasing a three-year extension but the club refused to budge, only offering Cook, 31, two more years.
It echoed the stance the Rabbitohs took in 2021 with club legend Adam Reynolds, who eventually left for a three-year contract with Brisbane after only being offered a 12-month deal to stay.
The issue for Souths is the emergence of young hooker Peter Mamouzelos, who is being groomed to take over from Cook.
The local junior turns 22 in January, having only made a handful of appearances since making his NRL debut in 2021.
He is under contract at Souths until the end of 2024, and given Cook is now locked in for a year beyond that, Mamouzelos will need to be convinced there is a path to regular first grade for him at Redfern.
Cook’s comments on the eve of signing his extension this week, though, cast doubt over that.
“I spoke to (Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou), the three years isn’t going to be there which is understandable, the club has to look after their position as well,” Cook told Fox Sports.
“But speaking to JD, he said if I’m playing good footy at that time there is no doubt he’ll re-sign me on that third or fourth year.”
That would potentially take Cook to the end of 2026, which would mean two years of shared hooker duties for Mamouzelos.
Mamouzelos only made two NRL appearances in 2022 and Cook has shown, that even at 31, he’s an 80-minute footballer.
Complicating matters for the Rabbitohs is the hooker free agency situation emerging around the NRL and the demand for quality No.9 options.
Parramatta have signed Josh Hodgson on a two-year deal to replace Reed Mahoney. The club has an option to take up his contract for the 2024 season. But, at 33, he’s not a long-term solution for the Eels.
Lachlan Croker has been an admirable servant at hooker for Manly since losing Manase Fainu three years ago. Croker’s current contract expires at the end of 2024, the same time Mamouzelos becomes a free agent.
Even at Penrith, where Mitch Kenny has assumed the No.9 jersey following Apisai Koroisau’s move to the Wests Tigers, he has a deal that also runs two more years. Beyond that, they only have four of their top-30 squad contracted.
Mamouzelos is obviously seen as the future at Souths, but how do you move along the incumbent NSW hooker and one of the premier players in his position, especially when his mindset is: “The ball is in my court to make sure I keep my standard up and keep continuing the play good footy. The length of my career is up to me.”
Much like they did with Reynolds when the torch was passed to halfback Lachlan Ilias, this shapes as a defining moment for the Rabbitohs.
