Rabbitoh Damien Cook says timing is everything when it comes to taking off from dummy-half

HERE’S how good South Sydney hooker Damien Cook is – he’s made dummy half runs one of the most exciting things in the game.

Damien Cook has developed his ability to pick and choose his times to run. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

HERE’S how good Damien Cook is – he’s made dummy half runs one of the most exciting things in the game.

The Dally M contender has ripped the NRL apart with his speed and acceleration out of dummy half with the crowd rising whenever the 27-year old takes off.

There is no other dummy half in the league who can run like Cook, and his play will form a big part of South Sydney’s plan to down the Dragons in Saturday’s sudden death semi-final.

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Damien Cook has developed his ability to pick and choose his times to run. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

However, it’s been a minute since Cook surged into the heart of the defenders and came out clean on the other side. His last line break was against Melbourne in Round 21, which was also the last time he ran for more than 70 metres in a match.

That’s alright with Cook though because when he runs he looks for quality, not quantity.

“I’ve had a few people ask me lately (that I) didn’t get too many opportunities, but that’s the way it is,” Cook told The Daily Telegraph.

Cook’s last linebreak was in Round 21, but he isn’t concerned. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“That’s one thing I wanted to work on this year – not running for the sake of running, picking my times, and I think I’ve done that.

“When those games don’t have those opportunities I’ve just got to make sure I’m doing my job for the team at that time.

“When it’s not running it’s giving good service to the forwards and halves and being strong in defence.”

What makes Cook so dangerous isn’t just his speed, but his recognition. He might only run a handful of times a game, but every one of them feels dangerous.

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In Origin I, for example, his 91 metres and came from just eight carries. His brilliant performance against the Storm yielded 128 metres gained, a try, a line break, a try assist and a line break assist from nine runs. In his most recent meeting with the Dragons, in Round 10 of this year, Cook cranked out 74 metres from just four runs.

And besides, there’s more to what Cook does than just running. He’s fourth in the league for average tackles per game with 38.7 and his clean service, an unquantifiable but crucially important factor in his play, gets the South Sydney points machine rolling.

The Dragons poster went out last week. This week it’s the Rabbitohs.

“There’s a lot more (than just running). If those opportunities arise you take them, I think that’s what any footballer does in their position,” Cook said.

“It’s all making sure you don’t just run for the sake of running and doing your job at that time for your team.”