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The Cook news has been in the cards for a while. Would be great and allow us more flexibility with our cap.
 
Cookie been a great player for us
Would like him to stay for 25 have 1 year with Wayne and see how he plays
 
alex 3549 said:
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...eal-for-rabbitohs-hooker-20240613-p5jlft.html

St George Illawarra are preparing to offer former NSW hooker Damien Cook a two-year deal pending approval from South Sydney.

The Dragons have been made aware that Cook could be on the chopping block at the Rabbitohs due to salary cap restraints and have made inquiries about the former representative dummy half’s availability next year.

Cook is contracted at the Rabbitohs until the end of 2025 on a deal worth about $650,000. The Dragons are willing to offer him a contract but would require South Sydney to contribute part of his salary in 2025.
The opportunity for Cook to move on presented itself a few weeks ago when Super League club Huddersfield made direct inquiries with South Sydney officials in the hope they could lure the hooker to England on a two-year deal.

The Rabbitohs informed Cook’s manager Mario Tartak, indicating they would not be likely to offer him an extension beyond 2025 and would not stand in his way if he was able to secure a longer deal in England or at another club in the NRL

The Dragons have since been in discussions with Tartak about Cook’s future. The Dragons had discussions with Jeremy Marshall-King about joining the club next season. However, he opted to instead recommit his future to the Dolphins, who take on Cronulla to open round 15 on Thursday night.
Cook, who turns 33 later this month, has had a difficult start to the season and was dropped by former coach Jason Demetriou for a short stint earlier in the year.

The Rabbitohs recently extended back-up hooker Peter Mamouzelos until the end of 2027 and see him as the future of the club.

The Dragons are happy with their hooker, Jacob Liddle, but see him more as a No.14 option than a starting No.9.
Click to expand...
It would be a dreadful mistake, particularly now we have missed out on JMK.

It is not good business to pay a player to service another club. Particularly if you don’t have a better option to take their place. In short, we would be paying to strengthen our opposition and weaken our own.

$650,000. IMO, Cook is easily worth every cent of that deal. He’s actually pretty decent value for money. Brandon Smith comparatively, is reportedly on $800,000.

If Cook stays on, it allows Peter Mamozelous to continue his development, playing off the bench in first grade, getting ready to take over full time in 2026. Couldn’t time it any better.

I really hope Cook decides to stay. Or that Souths keep him on to see out his contract.
 
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cmorrison9 said:
It would be a dreadful mistake, particularly now we have missed out on JMK.

It is not good business to pay a player to service another club. Particularly if you don’t have a better option to take their place. In short, we would be paying to strengthen our opposition and weaken our own.

$650,000. IMO, Cook is easily worth every cent of that deal. He’s actually pretty decent value for money. Brandon Smith comparatively, is on $800,000.

If Cook stays on, it allows Peter Mamozelous to continue his development, playing off the bench in first grade, getting ready to take over full time in 2026. Couldn’t time it any better.
Click to expand...
I dont think we would be paying him anything if he goes to the Dragons.

We release him and they pick up his salary.

We use that $600K on a middle or edge forward is a win win for us.
 
This has Wayne's fingerprints all over it.

It is 450K we can use to get a half decent prop.

One other to go.
 
From Foxsports:-

"The Dragons are reportedly ready to offer Damien Cook a two-year deal from 2025 after being made aware the Rabbitohs are under salary cap pressure."

So Souths tell Cook they wont resign him at the end of his current contract when he will be 34-35 and that equates to being under salary cap pressure?
 
Ok with Cook going to STG. It would be good if he returned to our club thereafter in some capacity. PM looks the goods for the future, especially under the coaching of WB in 2025. Throw the $$ saved at a fast winger or big front rower.
 
On the rumoured move, I think it's a good move for both Damien and the club.

Gives Damien another couple of years in the NRL, if that's what he wants.

Gives us the chance to move into the future earlier, and gives Pete a shot of confidence.

I'm not a Cook hater, but his best years are behind him, and if we can do the right thing by him and us, it's a win win.
 
All well and good , but what if Mamo gets a long term injury, and looking at this year with our squad that's a very real possibility, what do we do for a replacement ? We should keep Cook for another year and get a youngster ready to step into first grade primed and ready. He's been in pretty decent form lately and would be a perfect 14 if Bennett wants to go with Mamo as his 9.
 
I'm fine with Cook going, as long as we go to market for an NRL quality hooker to replace him.
 
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