Damien Cook, Cody Walker or Adam Reynolds to take over South Sydney captaincy
Cameron Murray may end up leading South Sydney in the future but for now the star lock forward believes someone more experienced should take the role.
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NO MORE: Burgess hangs up the boots
Cameron Murray will skipper South Sydney eventually but the 21-year-old says his time is not quite yet to be Sam Burgess’ replacement.
But teammate Damien Cook has put his hand up to lead a Rabbitohs side whose leadership stocks have been torn apart this season. The retirements of Burgess, Greg Inglis and premiership captain John Sutton has left a huge void in experience for South Sydney.
Cook and Adam Reynolds are considered the frontrunners to lead the club while Cody Walker is also in the mix. Walker filled in at times this season but his situation is complicated by uncertainty surrounding his long-term future at the club when his contract expires at the end of next year.
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Murray – who will make his Kangaroos debut on Sunday – may have taken over Burgess’ No. 13 jersey this year but felt it was not yet his time to lead.
“I don’t know if I’ve experienced enough and if I’ve learnt as much as I need to learn,” Murray said. “I don’t know if I’m confident enough in myself to step up into that captaincy.”
Cook echoed Murray’s sentiments. Cook said it would be unfair to lump the extra responsibilities on his young shoulders but the Kangaroos hooker wants the job.
“He's probably a bit young and you wouldn't do it to him,” Cook said. “He's a kid and you don't want to put the pressure on him. He's had a great year, let him keep learning and I'm sure he'll be the captain of Souths one day, if not his state and country if he keeps going the way he does.
“It's a matter of time with him. You don't want the pressure on him now.
“I'd never knock back the opportunity to captain my cub, especially South Sydney. It would be a huge honour. There are some other great leaders there.”
Cook was part of South Sydney’s leadership group alongside Sutton, Burgess, Reynolds and Walker.
Murray and Tom Burgess nominated Walker as Sam’s successor.
“I’m more than confident in a leader like Cody Walker,” Murray said. “He has already had ten or so games leading the club. He has had some great experiences there. He has more than what it takes in terms of experience to step up into Sam’ role. He will lead the club in the Cody Walker style and everyone will have to collectively fill Sam’s shoes.”
Burgess broke his news of the retirement via text to his Rabbitohs teammates Wednesday morning. Cook and Murray are in Auckland ahead of Australia’s Test against Tonga with Cook reading the heartfelt message having just finished a weights session.
“It was a long one,” Cook said of the message. “He said he was going to retire and how much he loved the boys and how much he cared about them. I knew about a week ago.
"He hadn't come to an official decision by then, but you could tell it in his voice and I don't think he wanted to tell me because I didn't want to hear it.”
Cook has backed South Sydney’s pursuit of Kangaroos teammate Tyson Frizell. The pair have played all levels of football alongside each other.
“Any club would love to have him,” Cook said. “I played junior footy with him and went school with him. It's a bit fresh to talk about replacing Sam but we do have to move on eventually … If Tyson wants to come over he's more than welcome.”