Damien Cook’s confession about family as Souths hooker lifts the lid on sad NRL departure

Damien Cook has revealed he doesn’t want to leave the Rabbitohs but is heading to the Dragons next year because it’s the best thing for his young family. Cook is on the verge of signing a two-year deal with St George Illawarra from 2025, after salary cap pressures meant the Rabbitohs couldn’t offer him an extension.

Cook broke down in tears last week when he told his Souths teammates that he was leaving at the end of the year. The 32-year-old’s departure comes as the Rabbitohs prepare for a second stint under master-coach Wayne Bennett.

And Cook revealed over the weekend that it was actually Bennett who told him to do the best thing for his family and take up the Dragons’ offer. Cook could have stayed at the Rabbitohs for one more year on $650,000, but will reportedly get $500,000 per year at the Dragons.

“Cooky didn’t make the decision until he had spoken to Wayne. Wayne’s obviously making recruitment decisions there next year,” Phil Rothfield said on Sky Sports radio. “All the Souths players are seeking advice from Wayne on different things.

“If Wayne had wanted Cooky to stay for two years instead of the one they offered him, do you think he’d be staying for two years? Of course he would. So he’s made that decision. He (Bennett) told him (Cook), ‘Do the best for your family.’ What it means by going to St George Illawarra, he gets an extra year. For a young fella with a young family, he had to take that.”