Sydney Roosters find blueprint to shutting down Damien Cook’s dynamic running game
THE Sydney Roosters may have found the blueprint every NRL club has been searching for — how to shut down Damien Cook.
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THE Sydney Roosters may have found the blueprint every NRL club has been searching for — how to shut down Damien Cook.
Cook has been in sublime form this year as one of the game’s most potent attacking weapons. But he was limited to just 62 metres on Friday night, easily the fewest of any match this year. He had run for more than 100 metres in his past two games and destroyed the Roosters the last time the two teams met.
Cook ran for 131 metres in their round six match with six runs – as many as he had during the Rabbitohs four point loss on Friday night.
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“I was expecting that,” Cook said. “They were tight around the ruck. With how well the forwards played last week I’m sure they wanted to aim up against our forwards. They did that.
“They played real. We played some OK footy. We pushed a little bit. We went away from our game plan.
“Quality sides like that you can’t go away from your game plan. You can’t give away penalties and give them easy possessions. We have to do what works for us.”
The Rabbitohs now head to Brisbane on Thursday night in the midst of a backline crisis. Greg Inglis is no certainty to be rushed back from a broken thumb while Alex Johnston is expected to spend time on the sidelines after coming from the field after just one minute with a hamstring injury on Friday night.
Johnston will join Robert Jennings and Adam Doueihi on the sidelines.
Cook said Inglis was a hope of returning.
“They will take the time with him,” Cook said. “We want him at the right end of the season. He has trimmed down.
“(The break has) freshened him up.”
Centre Dane Gagai has put his hand up to play fullback in Inglis absence.
“I’m happy to play there,” Gagai said.
Meanwhile, Cook is preparing to go head to head with Queensland rake Andrew McCullough on Thursday night for the first time since the Origin series.
“They need a win,” Cook said. “It’s going to be a big contest. He is very consistent. It’s something I’ve enjoyed watching him play. He is one of the hookers I liked to watch. I enjoyed coming up against him in the Origin period. He is very controlled. Good game management. I’d like to learn as much as I can off him.”
Damien Cook run metres this season
Rd Opp. Metres
1 Warriors 81
2 Panthers 96
3 Sea Eagles 81
4 Bulldogs 79
5 Dragons 133
6 Roosters 131
7 Bulldogs 94
8 Broncos 75
9 Knights 113
10 Dragons 72
11 Cowboys 81
12 Warriors 95
15 Eels 78
16 Cowboys 84
18 Bulldogs108
19 Tigers 98
20 Eels 132
21 Storm 128
22 Roosters 62