NRL 2021: Rabbitohs Damien Cook doesn’t support a new transfer window

The NRL wants to make changes to the player market but Souths star Damien Cook believes the governing body would be making a big mistake by introducing a transfer window.

Damien Cook.

Teammates of Adam Reynolds have implored Souths to secure the halfback’s future at Redfern after the playmaker was only offered a one-year extension.

Reynolds is off contract at the end of season 2021 but negotiations haven’t gone to plan with the club only prepared to table an extra year.

Hooker Damien Cook, who joined the Rabbitohs back in 2016 to play alongside Reynolds, wants to see the halfback finish his career as a one-club player.

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Adam Reynolds has only been offered a one-year deal to stay at Redfern.

“Reno (Reynolds) is one of the big reasons I came to South Sydney,” Cook said.

“I loved him as a halfback and I wanted to play alongside him. It’s the thing (contract talks) that comes with footy, it’s a bad thing about our sport.

“But hopefully the club can sort it out.”

Reynolds, a 206-game veteran, helped guide South Sydney to a historic premiership victory against Canterbury in 2014.

But the club is reluctant to offer him a long-term deal after injury forced former captains Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess to retire before their respective contracts had expired.

The Rabbitohs took a hit to the salary cap on Inglis and a financial hit on Burgess, with the club paying out the contract after the Englishman was medically retired.

Forward Cameron Murray believes losing the premiership winner would be a ‘tragedy’ for the Rabbitohs.

Adam Reynolds comes off contract at the end of the year.

“I’m not sure when or if a deal will be done, but it would be a tragedy if he left. I really want Adam to say here,” Murray said.

“I can‘t comment on the business side of things, but I can comment on how much I love Adam, how much I love playing alongside him and how much of a shame it would be to see him leave.

“He’s the life of the club here, and I think he’s been one of the leaders in our return to form since the early 2010s.

Four-time premiership winner Cooper Cronk questioned Reynolds’ ability to take the Rabbitohs to another title victory last week.

Despite guiding the side to three consecutive preliminary finals, Cronk said Reynolds has ‘failed’ as a halfback.

But Campbell Graham rubbished Cronk’s criticism.

“I’m backing Reno 100 per cent,” Graham said.

Damien Cook signed with the Rabbitohs to play alongside Reynolds.

“Making three prelims in a row isn’t easy and Reno has led us to those (games), we didn’t make the grand final but Reno has been huge for us since I’ve been here.

“He belongs here. We aren’t concerned about outside noise from people outside of the club.”

While Reynolds is sorting out his future, the NRL has started exploring major changes to the contract system with the view of introducing a transfer window to replace the November 1 rule.

Cook believes a transfer window isn’t in the best interest of players and doesn’t want to see the change introduced.

“Personally, I would be against a transfer window. You want to put the players first,” Cook said.

“You talk about a player off-contract, if you only give them a window to work with and he happens to do a serious injury then who’s picking him up? So it’s unfair to them.

Under the anti-tampering policy, players can begin fielding offers from rival clubs from November 1 the year before their contract ends with their respective club.

“It’s a nervous time when you come off contract, so being able to sign early puts everyone at ease.

“Sometimes it can be frustrating for fans and teams to have a player signed to another club or players swapping, but we have to think of both sides as well.”

In team news, forward Liam Knight has been ruled out of the season opener against Melbourne with concussion. Knight had been experiencing ‘ongoing symptoms’ after a head-knock in the lead-up to the Charity Shield.

Knight is now symptom free and is going through the 6-day concussion protocols.

Hollywood royalty keeps close eye on Rabbitohs

There was a Hollywood factor at Redfern on Monday morning with movie megastar Russell Crowe riding to South Sydney training on a push bike to watch his beloved Rabbitohs.

While most of the players had no idea Crowe was keeping a watchful eye from the stands, the Academy award winner was spotted chatting to mastercoach Wayne Bennett once training had wrapped up.

“Some of the boys might have but I didn‘t even notice he was at training today,” a surprised Damien Cook said.

Russell Crowe at Redfern Oval watching Rabbitohs training

“I wish I had seen the big man … it’s always exciting to see him. He must of ducked off before we got the chance to say hello.”

This time, however, there was no rousing speech from Crowe on the eve of the NRL season.

Back in 2019, Crowe gave a stirring motivational talk and recited from the Book of Feuds ahead of the Rabbitohs final clash against arch rival, the Sydney Rooters.

“That (a talk) hasn‘t happened in a long time, but he has in the past given a lot of talks … but nothing at the moment,” Cook said.

“I think he is just trusting us to get the job done. He’s confident in the team we have here.”

The Rabbitohs have been installed as second favourties behind Penrith for the premiership in season 2021.

Russell Crowe and Wayne Bennett at Souths training.

Bennett’s troops kick-off their title push against the Melbourne Storm on Thursday night down at AAMI Park.

The Rabbitohs have lost their last four matches against the Storm but Cook is confident that tide is about to turn.

“Most of that book would be against the Roosters, but look there is a definitely a good rivalry building between us and Melbourne,” Cook said.

“There have been some tough matches over the last couple of years and some close ones down in Melbourne.

“We have struggled to win down there but we are confident we can go down there and get the job done.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Rabbitohs Damien Cook doesn’t support a new transfer window