Damien Cook sparks South Sydney to 32-16 win over Cowboys
It’s been nearly 40 years since South Sydney had three players chosen for NSW. After roaring to a fifth-straight win, a quartet of Bunnies stars could soon be coloured in Blue.
The last time South Sydney had three players chosen for NSW the great Ziggy Niszczot stood on the Blues wing at Lang Park.
It’s been 37 years since Nizszcot and Souths teammates Tony Melrose and Tony Rampling played for NSW in Origin II, 1982.
But history is beckoning for four confident Bunnies firming to be chosen for the Blues and become the most Rabbitohs players chosen for an Origin match in the club’s history.
On the back of a masterclass from NSW Origin hooker Damien Cook, South Sydney rolled through North Queensland 32-16 last night to chalk-up five consecutive wins, by showcasing a lethal combination that could be soon coloured in blue.
Just two weeks before NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler selects his team for Origin I, Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds, five-eighth Cody Walker, lock-forward Cameron Murray and Cook gave Blues selectors a teasing preview of how damaging they can be.
So dominant was Cook’s destruction of the Cowboys that Souths coach Wayne Bennett said the dummy-half belonged in his “grand final” of great hookers.
“His game has developed this year,’’ Bennett said. “He’s got a lot of options in his game right now, he’s an absolute threat to everybody.’’
Bennett also praised Reynolds when asked if his halfback was ready for a return to the Origin arena for the first time since the 2016 series.
“His kicking game is right on the money, his defence is really good and he’s running the footy,’’ Bennett said.
“I don’t know what NSW are looking for at the moment, so I can’t really help you.’’
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Combined, the awesome foursome scored 20 of the Rabbitohs 32 points in the last match of Magic Round, including three of Souths’ five tries. They also came up with four of the five try assists and produced a collective 11 tackle busts. A beautiful hole-runner, Murray combined with Cook for a classy try in the 20th minute while also running for 104 metres by full-time.
Undeniably though, Cook is playing on another level to his baffled opponents.
“Only good players can do that,’’ Bennett said of Cook’s first-half complete dissection of the Cowboys defence.
“When you’ve got them (Cook, Reynolds, Walker and Murray) in one team, it’s pretty handy — and a couple of others to back them up.
“It makes your job a lot easier and that’s why there’s a 30-odd scoreboard tonight.’’
Not even a game-high 48 tackles could slow Cook down as he came up with three tackle busts and clever solo try.
BURGESS V JT
It was the heavyweight showdown worth the price of Magic round admission alone.
Prior to the match, South Sydney’s inspirational leader Sam Burgess said no player in the NRL could match the power of Cowboys juggernaut Jason Taumalolo.
Big Sam finds it easy to undersell himself.
Because at full-time, Souths fans left Suncorp Stadium chanting the name they wouldn’t swap for any other, “Sammy Burgess, Sammy Burgess …”
Indeed, it was Burgess who kickstarted the Bunnies’ first-half clinic.
He grabbed his sixth try in nine games thanks to the craftiness of Cook, but not without stampeding through and over the Cowboys tryline defence — just as Taumalolo normally would.
Burgess finished the game with a game-high 163 metres gained.
Importantly, Burgess’ captaincy will now come to the fore in coming weeks with on-field leader John Sutton set to miss this Saturday’s match with a rib injury.
ORIGIN CAM
The unavailability of current NSW interchange forward Jack de Belin has left an empty seat on Blues coach Brad Fittler’s bench for Origin I.
Fittler needs a number 13 who boasts an above-average workrate, a fearless defender to plug the middle, with the mobility and footwork to challenge the Maroons defensive line.
Ladies and gentleman, meet South Sydney lock-forward Cameron Murray.
A beautiful hole-runner, Murray combined with Cook for a classy try in the 20th minute while also running for 104-metres by full-time.
A member of Fittler’s extended training squad for a Blues camp last November, it isn’t a case of if the 21-year-old will represent his state, it’s a matter of when.
Origin I, back at the same stadium he dominated the Cowboys yesterday, is the perfect place to start.
MAROON MORGAN
Michael Morgan did everything possible to drag the Cowboys off the canvas, not once, but twice.
The Queensland playmaker is a captaincy candidate for Maroons coach Kevin Walters and against Souths we saw exactly why.
It was on the back of Morgan that the Cowboys rallied from 18-0 nil down after 23 minutes.
A handful when his forward pack is rolling and he’s playing over the advantage line, Morgan literally tried everything to inspire his side.
Morgan even delivered his best Johanthan Thurston impression with an incredible banana kick for Justin O’Neill’s second try moments before half-time.
SOUTH SYDNEY 32 (S Burgess D Cook C Murray K Turner C Walker tries A Reynolds 6 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 16 (J O’Neill 2 T Opacic tries J Kahu 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Phil Henderson, Ashley Klein
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