Damien Cook

[Dragonslayer]

I've said it before, Cookie is (will be) an awesome signing, for many reasons.

yes, he's lost some pace, but he's smart and relatively injury free, not like some others mentioned. I cant remember at any time has there been any controversy around him also.

Looking around the different squads there's isn't anyone who would be available, that isn't injured or has some issues.

so, what would a 2yr contract do for us!

he will bring leadership and professionalsm to the squad.

it is the perfect combination of 9/14, where the intensity wouldnt drop from one to the other.

Although he may have dropped some pace, he knows when to run, which will be the perfect foil for our fullback to follow through.

However, the most important for my consideration is what he could bring as far as coaching our next level 9/14's.
Currently, our KC 9/14 rotation is CM and H Finau. Both of whom, i can't see us moving forward with (Finau maybe as a T&T, but that's all). Marschke, if he is retained (which I can't see why not), could develop into a handy 14, but would need to improve defensively (hence Cook for 2yrs).

However, I think our next hooker or 14 or both will come from the current JF team, and yes I'm projecting 2yrs into the future.
Hjaltson is the current hooker and captain. He needs guidance and professional support (again hence Cook). There is also TPH, who could be a perfect 14, if he can build his body up. I also notice that they've promoted the SGBall hooker this week in Fagalilo. So they must have some opinion of him also.

It must be remembered that Cook was an SOO standard player, so he knows what is required to get there.
Our forward pack won't be the same then either. It's evident by who we've retained and which juniors we are targeting to join the top30 or extended squads.
Lots of wheels in motion atm, some slower than others, but all are moving in the right direction. Eventually they will all come together.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think when you watch Cooks high lights closely he does a lot of talking but talking ahead of plays where he sees opportunities ............it does appear when at the ground watching that Lids is fairly quiet.

Damiens strength appear to be will to win, character, organisation, fairly injury free, ability to shoot from dummy half but he is also much better than Lids in the 20m area when we attack ie he almost does a Cam Smith role of really counting off the numbers and or telling which player to count them off.........he also has a neat jump out to the side and late pass one he has committed the two opposition players......that makes it hard for the opposition..........ie Flano, Hunt, Cook and Sloan all moving around and setting up plays is more compelling than 2024.

I also think we are looking for that little bit better in each area of our team to aggregate as a lot better. Not many teams just suddenly land Cooper Cronk.......most teams have to keep finding their recruitment wins.

Our edge backrowers are better
Our FB is better
Our 5/8 is better
Our depth is better
Our juniors are reallu much better last couple seasons of recruitment
Our High Performance is better
Our coaching is a lot better

The compound effect

Lastly if Flano can convince Bennett and Bennett convince the Souths Club that Cook can go early this season if Cook wants to ..........well that would be amazing four our 2024 trajectory........ Look at the Roosters working on that part now after already signing Mark Nawaqanitawase for 2025 onwards.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

There are obviously arguments for and against Cook's recruitment but with a 35 yo (as he will be in 2026), there are assumptions around his body being able to cope with NRL football we don't have to make with a younger man. Bottom line- what concerns me with the deal is that 1. Bennett- as good a judge of a footballer as you will find- didn't want to keep him and 2. According to NRL 360 worthies, the Dragons are tipping in a 1/2 mill and Souths only $50K per year. Sounds a bit like a desperation grab from us and Souths got the better of the deal.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

The other thing with the Cook deal is there has been no official announcement on the Dragon's website.
Thinking we are now in the 10 day cooling off period??
Will believe the deal is done once the official club announcement is made.

 

[TruSaint]

The other thing with the Cook deal is there has been no official announcement on the Dragon's website.
Thinking we are now in the 10 day cooling off period??
Will believe the deal is done once the official club announcement is made.

The fact that it's been out there now for a couple of days, and Souths / Cook haven't refuted it, tells me its okay. But, I get it. Until formally announced nothing is certain.

 

[RedVee]

There are obviously arguments for and against Cook's recruitment but with a 35 yo (as he will be in 2026), there are assumptions around his body being able to cope with NRL football we don't have to make with a younger man. Bottom line- what concerns me with the deal is that 1. Bennett- as good a judge of a footballer as you will find- didn't want to keep him and 2. According to NRL 360 worthies, the Dragons are tipping in a 1/2 mill and Souths only $50K per year. Sounds a bit like a desperation grab from us and Souths got the better of the deal.

I think that just shows that we couldn’t afford to miss another target. The club must be feeling it as much as the fans at this point.

 

[Mojo]

There would be all sorts of legal, compliance and coordination issues around deals like this.

 

[SAP58]

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?

I agree if Muhlheisen was in Flanno’s thoughts he would have been used this year by now. I however don’t think it will be the same forwards, Flanno will get a big boppa, whether it’s 2nd or 3rd choice we will see. If it was Hunt from the Sharks I wouldn’t be upset he definitely breaks the line but can’t do big minutes. JDB looks lost so I think he will add a couple as well as bringing the Couchman boys in. I think he will keep BMM & sign a couple on short term contracts waiting for the younger players like Egan & co to get ready for first grade. It’s a shame Coric has not come on this year after his knee injury as I thought he had a heap of potential.

 

[SAP58]

I've said it before, Cookie is (will be) an awesome signing, for many reasons.

yes, he's lost some pace, but he's smart and relatively injury free, not like some others mentioned. I cant remember at any time has there been any controversy around him also.

Looking around the different squads there's isn't anyone who would be available, that isn't injured or has some issues.

so, what would a 2yr contract do for us!

he will bring leadership and professionalsm to the squad.

it is the perfect combination of 9/14, where the intensity wouldnt drop from one to the other.

Although he may have dropped some pace, he knows when to run, which will be the perfect foil for our fullback to follow through.

However, the most important for my consideration is what he could bring as far as coaching our next level 9/14's.
Currently, our KC 9/14 rotation is CM and H Finau. Both of whom, i can't see us moving forward with (Finau maybe as a T&T, but that's all). Marschke, if he is retained (which I can't see why not), could develop into a handy 14, but would need to improve defensively (hence Cook for 2yrs).

However, I think our next hooker or 14 or both will come from the current JF team, and yes I'm projecting 2yrs into the future.
Hjaltson is the current hooker and captain. He needs guidance and professional support (again hence Cook). There is also TPH, who could be a perfect 14, if he can build his body up. I also notice that they've promoted the SGBall hooker this week in Fagalilo. So they must have some opinion of him also.

It must be remembered that Cook was an SOO standard player, so he knows what is required to get there.
Our forward pack won't be the same then either. It's evident by who we've retained and which juniors we are targeting to join the top30 or extended squads.
Lots of wheels in motion atm, some slower than others, but all are moving in the right direction. Eventually they will all come together.

Great post, well thought out & put forward. Love reading common sense posts !

 

[Biglance]

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.

Apparently the contract was signed Saturday, I'd say it's with nrl to tick off

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

almost wonder whether they are all discussing 2024 at the same time?

long shot but would be very good if we can shuffle a player out who isnt going to play FG anyway and we pay him out to get started with another opportunity ?

 

[Wolfgang90]

We make a signing, people are upset but the same people are upset if we make no signings. Can't win.

It's 2 years, not a big deal if it doesn't work out. The drop off in NRL quality hooker after Liddle is massive. Muheisen hasn't kicked on, Fainu is an unknown quantity. At the very least it provides an alternate option for Liddle who has been very injury prone in his career.

I still want us to chase Conor Watson as he's the perfect utility & a great player, albeit injury prone himself.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

for all we know Lids might only be on $300k pa plus game payments

would be any more is my guess

 

[Hound of Dracula]

We make a signing, people are upset but the same people are upset if we make no signings. Can't win.

It's 2 years, not a big deal if it doesn't work out. The drop off in NRL quality hooker after Liddle is massive. Muheisen hasn't kicked on, Fainu is an unknown quantity. At the very least it provides an alternate option for Liddle who has been very injury prone in his career.

I still want us to chase Conor Watson as he's the perfect utility & a great player, albeit injury prone himself.

I’d love Connor Watson.

I’m not complaining about Cook Im just not convinced of his value unless either Cook or Liddle are backup only (Depth) which is unfair to Liddle.

So Liddle is not as explosive over a full 80, but it’s not like he just fatigues at 60mins and loses us games? I’d a thought we have bigger problems than Liddle (Excepting injuries of course)

Liddle and Cook are both awesome Hookers, but neither offer great value as 14’s excepting in their specialist position.

I know other teams carry two hookers, but we don’t yet have the overall team quality to do the same

In terms of our team, positionally, they are mostly specialists forwards or backs. We don’t have that 80 minute, talented all- rounder like Watson. Therefore, we take risks with our Bench selections, 4 forwards, leaving us with Zero depth for ‘Outside backs’ injury. We’ve all seen the result of losing an outside back to injury.

With Cook, that means 3 Forwards and a Hooker – Still no genuine cover for the backs

Not to mention a new 32 y/o Hooker with our 34y/o half.
They will only get older!

Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

[maestro1]

I get that, it's exactly what we were doing at the start of the season. I'm guessing Flanno has lost faith in Mulheisen and Nu Brown because we have been playing with 4 forwards on the bench lately. Results are about the same either way. Look I hope you're right, but Liddle playing 80 minutes isn't the reason we've been winning or losing games. From where I sit it's a lot more to do with our line speed in defence, an uninspirational captain who demands all the ball, and the inability of our forwards to get fast play-the-balls. Cook won't fix any of those.

It's our kicking game that is our biggest liability. Our trash kicking game is putting so much unnecessary pressure on us. The slow, lethargic play the balls from Lawrie in the opposition 20 is killing our scoring chances. Sometimes he has 2 of these in a set. Needs to stay right out of it when we get into the attacking zone.

 

[since77]

It's our kicking game that is our biggest liability. Our trash kicking game is putting so much unnecessary pressure on us. The slow, lethargic play the balls from Lawrie in the opposition 20 is killing our scoring chances. Sometimes he has 2 of these in a set. Needs to stay right out of it when we get into the attacking zone.

This x 1000.
Lawrie turtled onto his back for half an hour like an upside cockroach followed by a kick by marquee man Hunt right down the opposition fullback's throat. Rinse and repeat.
The Dragons way.

 

[Saints Forever]

It's our kicking game that is our biggest liability. Our trash kicking game is putting so much unnecessary pressure on us. The slow, lethargic play the balls from Lawrie in the opposition 20 is killing our scoring chances. Sometimes he has 2 of these in a set. Needs to stay right out of it when we get into the attacking zone.

We let young Herring go

He could kick the cover off the ball

 

[The Word]

I don't have any issues with this signing. For me, it's more of the same. Gradually improving the squad by increments. The superstars won't come so we have to take every opportunity as it arises to add small improvements to our 30. It will take a few years to get there but we'll get there.

I trust Flanagan's judgement with the reserve / pathway players. He seems to be quite ruthless with who he judges as good enough and who he feels is not. We might not agree with every call but he seems to have a very good handle on the strengths and weaknesses of these players. Some will move on and that's ok good luck to them. I don't think Flanagan would keep a kid that he felt was ready out of the team just to keep a favourite there, he would have his reasons, and I'm ok with that.

 

[TheRev]

Literally the 1st bloke we have managed to sign, and I reckon we have been turned down by atleast 50.... gotta take the improvements where you can get em fellas.. its a long slow march out of this hole.

 

[denis preston]

I agree if Muhlheisen was in Flanno’s thoughts he would have been used this year by now. I however don’t think it will be the same forwards, Flanno will get a big boppa, whether it’s 2nd or 3rd choice we will see. If it was Hunt from the Sharks I wouldn’t be upset he definitely breaks the line but can’t do big minutes. JDB looks lost so I think he will add a couple as well as bringing the Couchman boys in. I think he will keep BMM & sign a couple on short term contracts waiting for the younger players like Egan & co to get ready for first grade. It’s a shame Coric has not come on this year after his knee injury as I thought he had a heap of potential.

Coric unfortunately has a Dan hunt / Lawrie body.