Fending Father Time: Cook knows the kids are coming

Damien Cook will celebrate his 32nd birthday days after Origin II and is adamant he has plenty of rep football left in him, but he's also acutely aware that the next generation of NSW hookers are nipping at his heels.

After being overlooked for the series opener last month – ending a streak which saw him play 15-straight Origin games between 2018-2022 – Cook has been selected alongside Cowboys rake Reece Robson for the clash at Suncorp Stadium, following incumbent No.9 Api Koroisau suffering a broken jaw in Round 15.

In earning a recall, the Rabbitohs veteran has beat out Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey, who was brought into camp as a shadow player for Game One, and who alongside Robson is considered the future of the position in NSW.

While Cook insisted he will continue to seek representative honours as long as he is playing in the NRL, he knows the challenges coming from the next generation will only get stronger.

“It was only a matter of time before Reece was going to wear this jersey," Cook said from Blues camp. 

“He came into camp before (in 2022) and I thought then that he had all the skillset, the toughness, I feel like he is built for it.

“I think he is going to thrive in this arena.

You’ve got to make sure you’re playing good footy if you want to keep your opportunity in this jersey, because these young guys coming up are playing really good footy.

Damien Cook

Despite NSW going down to the Maroons 26-18 in Game One in Adelaide, Koroisau was among coach Brad Fittler’s better performers, playing the full 80 minutes and making a team-high 41 tackles, and as a result Cook doubts he would have been recalled if not for his long-time teammate’s injury.  

“Especially when he did a good job… I don’t think he would have been in any doubt [for Game Two], that’s for sure,” Cook said.

“He deserves to be here. If he wasn’t injured he would have played all three games and started all three games.

“Media went off when [the injury] happened and were asking me questions about Origin and stuff, but to be honest all I was worried about was Api.

“The bloke had a shocking injury, I think three different places he’s broken it, you never want to see that happen to anyone.”

Following the withdrawal of Latrell Mitchell from the squad on Thursday due to the calf injury which also ruled him out of Origin I, Cook is now one of three Rabbitohs in Blues camp, with Cameron Murray fighting to overcome a groin injury in time for kick-off and Keaon Koloamatangi in camp as cover for the time being.