Storm skipper Cameron Smith says forward pack have monster job to nullify Rabbitohs star Damien Cook

STORM captain Cameron Smith has entrusted his forward pack to do the heavy lifting required to stop South Sydney speedball Damien Cook.

Damien Cook has been exceptional this season for the Rabbitohs. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

STORM captain Cameron Smith has entrusted his forward pack to do the heavy lifting required to stop South Sydney speedball Damien Cook.

The battle of the hookers is a tantalising subplot to Friday night’s qualifying final showdown at AAMI Park.

Cook has been instrumental in Souths’ success this season, wreaking havoc from behind brothers Burgess, Tom and George, with Angus Crichton, John Sutton and Sam Burgess riding shotgun.

BOYD: Criticism will takes its toll on Hunt

KENT: How a rookie coach rebuilt South Sydney

MOTIVATION: The photo that inspires Greg Inglis

Damien Cook has been exceptional this season for the Rabbitohs. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The red-and-green wall of thunder powered Souths past the Storm last time the two sides met in Sydney, with Cook running amok in the second half.

But Smith, who knows his way around September having played in six grand finals since 2006, also knows better than to get caught up in the head-to-head battle for hooker supremacy.

“I know it gets billed as personal rivalries or key match-ups,” Smith told the Herald Sun.

“I’ve never gone into a game thinking I need to outplay my opposition number.

“I think some players do that… I’m out there to try and make my team play as best it can.

“If I take my focus off what the team needs and focus on my battle with Damien Cook I can finish a game thinking I outplayed him but we could love because I take that selfish outlook.”

Cameron Smith says the Storm’s forward pack is key to shutting down Cook. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Cook will be central to Storm plans this week after he torched the purple machine last month, making the most of the territory gains made by the giant Rabbitohs pack.

His speed out of the ruck again looms as a significant threat for the Storm forwards, banged up and bullied into submission back in Round 21.

“He played extremely well against us up there but it was on the back of what his forwards were allowed to do,” Smith said.

“I know playing No. 9 myself, your ability to have an influence on games is determined by how well your forwards play and their forwards certainly outplayed our ruck.

“He’d be extremely confident coming down to Melbourne and do the same thing to us this week.”

Cook carved up the Storm in Round 21. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Desperate to make amends, Storm prop Jesse Bromwich has backed his pack to measure despite being without big bopper Nelson Asofa-Solomona (ankle) again this week.

“We learned last time how hard and how big they are,” Bromwich said.

“I dare say there will be (plans in place for Cook), he’s been playing really well this season and he really tore us up last time we played up there.

“We just got to do a good job on their forwards because if you try and limit that hopefully you can limit his (Cook) game.”

Jesse Bromwich will bring up game 200 against the Rabbitohs. (AAP Image/David Crosling)

BROMWICH: WE’RE YET TO PLAY OUR BEST FOOTY

STORM enforcer Jesse Bromwich has warned the reigning premier is open to further improvement ahead of its crunch qualifying final against South Sydney.

Bromwich, 29, who is set to become just the sixth player ever to play 200 Storm games, is hopeful the return of Cameron Munster and Billy Slater will re-ignite the club’s attacking game.

A depleted Storm missed a golden opportunity to sew up the minor premiership last week, going down to Penrith Panthers by six points after leading at half-time.

“I think we’ve been quite inconsistent prior to the finals, but we had a lot of boys coming in and out, chopping and changing, I think we got lots of improvement to go,” Bromwich said.

“We sit there and watch video, we see opportunities and things we miss, hopefully they’re ones that we can take when guys like Billy Slater and Cameron Munster return.”

Since making his NRL debut in 2010, Bromwich has risen to become the leader of the Storm pack.

The incredibly durable forward missed just two games between Round 1, 2011 and Round 6, 2017.

But the past two years has been rocked by injury and suspension, having missed 11 of the past 51 games.

“I had a bit of a troubled year this year with injuries but before that I was getting through games quite well so touch wood I can keep doing that,” the two-time premiership star said.

“I feel good, I feel fresh because of the breaks I have had this year.”

Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply.

Originally published as Storm skipper Cameron Smith says forward pack have monster job to nullify Rabbitohs star Damien Cook