Damien Cook

[Crush]

Maybe, Crush

But I'm a massive KF fan at half
Give him the opportunity and no one will be crying Nepotism

I’m with you, I like KF.

 

[Dragon David]

I’m with you, I like KF.

Same here guys.

 

[Dragon David]

With the very likelihood of Damien Cook coming to the Dragons, there is the possibility of Brandon Smith taking his place at the Bunnies next year. Bennett wanted him at the Dolphins last year but Smith was in deep negotiations with the Roosters at the time and signed with them.

Bennett would know how to handle him I'm sure.

 

[blacksafake]

With the very likelihood of Damien Cook coming to the Dragons, there is the possibility of Brandon Smith taking his place at the Bunnies next year. Bennett wanted him at the Dolphins last year but Smith was in deep negotiations with the Roosters at the time and signed with them.

Bennett would know how to handle him I'm sure.

You could be onto something there Dragon David.
I’m sure Souths would like to pinch a player of his ability from their neighbours as well.

 

[steerlerbab]

Despite Cook's age, this is a great signing. Next year we will have 2 game managers Cook and Hunt especially in attack. At the moment our attack is very one dimensional. Mostly right side of the field with Hunt either putting a bomb or grubber for Lomax. It works against weaker opposition like tigers but against top sides it does not work.

With Cook, we will get more balanced attacks. This will bring in Flanno, Suli, Sua and Fegai more into the game.

Finally, it gives us this 2 Hooker option that Queensland SOO team has used in the last few years with great result.

Liddle plays the first 20 minutes of each half and Cook the second 20 minutes of each half.

 

[Chook99]

I would roll the dice with Schuster at around the $400k mark, we have the cap space.

No, I don't think he has the defensive capacity. Attack yes

 

[KingFlanno7]

 

[Veteran Dragon]

I’ve always been a fan of Cook he is very professional on and off the field. He has bounced back to his best in the last 3 games and the Flanno effect will have him playing at his best. We still need 2 big aggressive front rowers who can punch through the defensive line for Cook‘s scoots out of dummy half.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Wasnt Michael Ennis also about 32yrs old when he joined the Sharks for his final two years of footy?

He won then GF with the Sharks in that second and final season with the Sharks and was about that age ie 32/33 yrs old but no where near the athlete of Cook.

 

[Phantom V]

Wasnt Michael Ennis also about 32yrs old when he joined the Sharks for his final two years of footy?

He won then GF with the Sharks in that second and final season with the Sharks and was about that age ie 32/33 yrs old but no where near the athlete of Cook.

Nathan Fien was 31 or 32 when we won the comp in 2010

 

[denis preston]

Well we need someone to play hooker in NSW Cup.. Liddle and Cook I think will be 14 & 9 in 1st grade... assuming both are fit.

I thought Mulheissen has had a few good moments this year but he should have gotten better by now.. I just dont think he has enough weapons in his aresenal to be a 1st grader... id much rather go after another kid from another club, because I dont think Hjaltason is remotely near that standard yet. If Conner does stay I reckon its on a train & trial, once again we had a lot of injury luck this year but we really do need a 3rd bloke who can play hooker in and around the system.. especially if they arent 80 minute hookers.

Flanagan ?

 

[denis preston]

I dont think there is any 10day cooling off, Souths have asked Cook to look elsewhere.. and the Souths club would have signed off on the saints offer (which includes I believe 50k paid by Souths).

That said, we will obviously let them make their announcements first etc.. there are no prizes for pissing another club off who we will have to deal with in the future.

It would have to be more than 50k. He was to be on 750k for the next 2 seasons with South’s so if we are paying 700k a year the deal doesn’t look so good for us.

 

[lombard]

It would have to be more than 50k. He was to be on 750k for the next 2 seasons with South’s so if we are paying 700k a year the deal doesn’t look so good for us.

Different reports have different figures. One report was $650k next year at South’s so maybe we pay $500k and they pay $150k. Following year just $500k from us.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

No, I don't think he has the defensive capacity. Attack yes

Don’t need a huge amount of defence at 6, for me he is all attitude. Flanno will know him well from Manly so will know if he is salvageable… although he does look a perfect Bennett redemption project..think he will end up at South’s.

be good if Luke Metcalfe became homesick

 

[True_Believer]

Imagine this - Cookie starts the game. At the 30 minute mark, he goes off and Liddell comes on. Liddell plays for the rest of the game. Cookie comes on at the 50th minute to replace Huth at lock. We've then got 4 hookers on the field. What a strategy!!! The opposition won't know what hit them!!!! /j

Nah, but seriously, I think he'll be good. I called it a few weeks ago when there was talk that Bennett would take JMK with him. I think he's probably been a little off his game because of the "JD culture" issues at Souths - the whole team has been poor. A change of environment and team mates might do him good. I think he'll add some good value over 2 years. At least buy us some time to bring through and prepare some juniors which I think is the overall focus now.

 

[justadragon]

A future spine of Sloan, Flanagan, Hunt and Cook......sorry but it's hardly mouth watering moving forward is it

How about Bird Amone Hunt and McCullough

 

[Number of the Beath]

I'm all in favour of Cook for the next two seasons. He's got a great work ethic and would be a great mentor for Muhleisen or any other dummy halves we're bringing through the ranks.
I still want to see us sign a couple of real enforcers for the front row and a half-back who isn't such a weather vane - you know as soon as (C)Hunt drops his head or gets a sook on that it's all over.

 

[justadragon]

I'm all in favour of Cook for the next two seasons. He's got a great work ethic and would be a great mentor for Muhleisen or any other dummy halves we're bringing through the ranks.
I still want to see us sign a couple of real enforcers for the front row and a half-back who isn't such a weather vane - you know as soon as (C)Hunt drops his head or gets a sook on that it's all over.

Enough said NOTB, you saw the difference between a halfback and a pretend halfback last sunday.

 

[Number of the Beath]

You could be onto something there Dragon David.
I’m sure Souths would like to pinch a player of his ability from their neighbours as well.

And it would extra publicity spice to the NRL's bogus "League's oldest rivalry" cr@p.

 

[Old Timer]

I'm all in favour of Cook for the next two seasons. He's got a great work ethic and would be a great mentor for Muhleisen or any other dummy halves we're bringing through the ranks.
I still want to see us sign a couple of real enforcers for the front row and a half-back who isn't such a weather vane - you know as soon as (C)Hunt drops his head or gets a sook on that it's all over.

I think Muhlheisen is probably not considered NRL quality and might exit our system so not sure who gets mentored and fingers crossed we don't lose Liddle for 2026.

How do you think Cook will go if we only have the current forwards running around again in 2025?