NRL 2021: Souths star Damien Cook goes from game’s best dummy half to hooker under fire

He was meant to be the hooker to benefit most from the NRL rule changes designed to speed up the ruck. Instead, Damien Cook is struggling to adapt. Here’s why.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 11: Damien Cook of the Rabbitohs looks on after the round one NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI Park, on March 11, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Damien Cook has gone from the NRL’s most dangerous dummy half to a player whose ranking as the game’s best No.9 is legitimately under fire.

While Cooper Cronk caused a stir recently when he put the heat on Adam Reynolds for not aiming up when it matters most, Cook should consider himself lucky he has escaped more scrutiny.

But the problem for South Sydney is that Cook’s forgettable round one performance against Melbourne has again exposed a considerable chink in the Rabbitohs’ armour.

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Damien Cook needs to step it up if Souths are to be a real premiership force.

Cook was meant to be the hooker who would most benefit from the NRL rule changes that were designed to speed up the ruck.

Instead Fox Sports Stats show that Cook has not gone close to delivering on those expectations.

And it’s in the matches where Cook runs the least that Souths struggle most.

In the four games in the past season where Cook has had three runs or less, the Rabbitohs have lost all.

Those matches included the round one loss to Melbourne (2 runs for 19m), last year’s preliminary final against Penrith (1 run for 6m), round four last year against Melbourne (2 runs for 32m) and against Brisbane in round two (1 run for 4m).

While Cook’s performance against the Storm had little impact, Brandon Smith had seven runs for 78m, totally outpointing Australia’s Test hooker.

Admittedly Cook was playing behind a pack that was dominated by the Storm’s big men, but even so, the Rabbitohs rake was way below his best.

What has happened to Cook’s famous running game?

It would have to be a growing concern for Wayne Bennett especially coming on the back of last year’s prelim final where Cook not only had a limited impact running the ball but also came up with that crucial missed tackle which allowed Isaah Yeo to set up the match winning try.

In the two earlier finals matches against Newcastle and Parramatta, Cook ran for 155m and 133m respectively.

But then you go back to the 2019 preliminary final against Canberra and Cook only had three runs for 19m and again came up with a crucial tackle miss when he got steamrolled by Josh Papalii for the match clinching try.

Cook’s stats also show that he averaged a career-high 90m in 2018 which dipped to 43m in 2019 and jumped back up to 63m last year.

There is no doubt opposition teams are targeting him more than ever and markers are clearly pushing the boundaries by not always standing square to close down Cook’s options.

But that’s not going to change judging by what the refs are allowing.

So Cook, and Souths for that matter, need to find a way to break the shackles or it is going to seriously limit one of their most dangerous attacking weapons as the season rolls on.

Cook’s position as the premier hooker in the game is under real threat.

There is a justified concern that Cook’s confidence has also suffered because of the questionable tactics being used to nullify his running.

But he also has to take ownership of the situation and find a way to fix it.

With Cameron Smith retired, Cook had earned the right to go into this season ranked as the game’s top hooker given he’s the NSW and Kangaroo incumbent.

But he’ll need to pick up his act if he’s going to stay there with the likes of Harry Grant, Brandon Smith and Api Koroisau chasing hard, while Englishman Josh Hodgson is also back from injury.