Damien Cook reportedly leaving Rabbitohs in $1m switch

South Sydney veteran Damien Cook has reportedly confirmed to teammates he is leaving the Rabbitohs in a major club switch.

Damien Cook is leaving South Sydney.

South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Fox Sports reports Cook informed his Rabbitohs teammates of his decision at the club on Wednesday morning.

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The 32-year-old is contracted with South Sydney for next season but has opted to leave to join St George Illawarra for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The Rabbitohs are expected to go through a transition period following the mid-season sacking of coach Jason Demetriou after a dismal start to the season.

Interim coach Ben Hornby is currently steering the team, with veteran super coach Wayne Bennett to return to the Bunnies next year on a three-year deal.

The Dragons deal is reportedly worth $500,000 per season.

Cook made his NRL debut with the Dragons in 2013 and played footy as a Helensburgh Tigers junior in the Illawarra competition.

South Sydney veteran Damien Cook is leaving. NRL Imagery

South Sydney’s loss is the Dragons’ gain. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Bennett has the Dolphins in the top four halfway through this season and is desperate to coach a third team to premiership glory after success with the Broncos and Dragons.

The 74-year-old led the Rabbitohs to several preliminary finals and a Grand Final defeat to Penrith in 2021.

Bennett’s return is expected to trigger some upheaval of South Sydney’s roster, including an ageing forward pack.

Cook may well have read the tea leaves and decided to pre-emptively move to the Dragons, which will see him join Ben Hunt.

Winger-centre Zac Lomax is leaving St George Illawarra for Parramatta next year, but Cook’s signing is a strong recruitment for the Dragons.

Cook has played 196 games for the Rabbitohs, 17 times for NSW in State of Origin and has played for Australia on four occasions.

Originally published as Damien Cook reportedly leaving Rabbitohs in $1m switch