Dragons 2018: McInnes and Cook set for NSW Origin hooking duel
Dragons Den News
BLUE EYED: NSW Origin hopefuls Jack de Belin and Cameron McInnes in the thick of it at Dragons training. Picture: Adam McLean.
WHEN you're honing in on a maiden NSW jumper, a showdown with the best No. 9 to ever do it is a welcome test. A head-to-to battle with your biggest rival for said jumper a week later? Even better.
That's the path laid out for Dragons rake Cameron McInnes who will take on Blues hooking rival Damien Cook this week, fresh off a points decision win over Maroons skipper Cameron Smith on Sunday.
The fact he'll also be up against his former club and former teammate Cook adds more juice to the narrative, at least for media types if not for McInnes himself.
“Cooky's playing well and doing a good job for them but my job as the hooker for my team is to get the boys going forward,” McInnes said.
“It's not a one-on-one battle or anything like that. As much as people may try to make it that way, it's not how the game works. At the end of the day what I do isn't affected by the opposition
“He's playing well and that's good for him. I've played Souths that many times now through Charity Shield and things like that it's just another game in all honesty.
“I've got good mates over there obviously but I've got good mates at the Warriors, the Tigers, everywhere now. This is my home here at the Dragons and I'm just going to go out there and try and do my best for the boys.”
Cook and McInnes shared the Rabbitohs hooking role throughout the 2016 season before the latter shifted to the Dragons and turned himself into an 80-minute ironman.
The 24-year-old, who signed a three-year contract extension prior to round one, puts the transformation down to the faith of coach Paul McGregor.
“I came with a point to prove to myself in that I knew I was a better player than what I was putting out there week to week,” McInnes said.
"That's a frustrating thing as a footballer. You can't control everything that happens but, if you're not playing to your potential, that's the frustrating part.
“I still don't think I'm at my potential yet. I'm getting better and I'm being more consistent. That's the most pleasing thing, but it all comes back to the faith Mary's shown in me.”
That departure also opened the door for Cook to establish himself as the most dynamic running hooker in the game. Those differing, respective attributes pose the dummy-half selection conundrum for NSW coach Brad Fittler.
The word is McInnes has his nose in front but he said he's had no trouble blocking out the rampant talk of Origin selection that's accompanied his side's flying start to the year.
“I can ignore it because I don't read papers or anything like that so the only time I hear it is when [the media] mention it,” he said.
“In all honesty, and it's the truth, I just want to keep playing well for the Dragons. The crowd we had out there [on Sunday] comes off the back of us playing as a team and for each other.
“If individual rewards come later, obviously I'll be happy, but I just want to keep this going because what we're creating is unbelievable and I want to be a part of it.”
It's understandable that Origin talk has been the furthest thing from his mind this week after his partner Rachel gave birth to son Talanoa the day after the Dragons Anzac Day win over the Roosters.
It prompted a mad dash from Allianz Stadium back to Wollongong.
“The induction process started on Anzac Day but the hospital told me he probably wouldn't come til Thursday but I just wanted to be there,” he said.
“After the game I left and went straight there and he ended up coming at 7.30 Thursday night so it was a long day but worth every minute.
“I didn't sleep but I was high off the win after the game and looking forward to meeting him.
"He's been a good little boy so far and it's great to go home to him. It makes you smile and it puts things in perspective.”
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5384214/mcinnes-and-cook-set-for-nsw-hooking-duel/?cs=3713
