In a heartfelt video posted on the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ website, Damien Cook opened up about his nine-season, 207-game journey with the club. Having joined the Rabbitohs from the Bulldogs in 2015 after just nine first-grade appearances, Cook quickly developed into one of the NRL’s top hookers. Known for his blistering pace and dynamic running game, he played a key role in many of the Rabbitohs’ successes, often leaving opponents in his wake.
As his time at Redfern nears its end, with a return to his first NRL club, the St. George Illawarra Dragons, on the horizon, Cook took the opportunity to reflect on his tenure at Souths. He reminisced about the highlights of his career, acknowledging the impact the club and its supporters had on him. His legacy as one of the Rabbitohs’ greats is firmly cemented as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.
In an emotional video, Damien Cook reflected on his illustrious nine-year career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, highlighting the personal growth and friendships he developed during his time at the club. As the 33-year-old revisited memorable moments through photos, he became especially moved when shown a picture of himself with Cody Walker and Cameron Murray before the 2021 NRL Grand Final. Reflecting on his and Walker’s shared journey, Cook was brought to tears.
“Why am I crying about Cody?” he joked through his emotion. He fondly recalled how Walker, who was the first person he met when he arrived at Redfern, greeted him with a smile that day. Their connection grew into a strong partnership both on and off the field. “We’ve had a special journey,” Cook said. “Almost played all of our 200 Souths games together. We’ve had a great combination on the field.”
Both players, late bloomers in their careers, developed into NRL stars. Cook, who debuted at 22 but didn’t break through until he was 25, and Walker, who debuted at 26, have since blossomed into representative players for both club and country. They are two of just 10 Rabbitohs to have reached the milestone of 200 games for the historic club.
Reflecting on their journey together, Cook added, “It’s been a great ride with him. I know he’s been just as proud as I am of him with what we’ve been able to achieve. Love ya Cods.”
Reflecting on his close bond with Cameron Murray, the current captain of the Rabbitohs, Damien Cook described the lock forward as the type of player who inspires others to give their best. “He’s one of those guys that when you go out on the field you want to make them proud,” Cook said.
Having played his 200th game for South Sydney earlier this season, Cook was shown a post-game photograph of himself with fellow Rabbitohs legends Cody Walker, Alex Johnston, and Tom Burgess—players who have all reached the 200-game milestone for the club. Reflecting on this achievement, Cook said, “I was the 10th player to reach 200 games for South Sydney. It’s crazy to think I’m in the top 10 for that. To think that I’ve played with a lot of those boys is crazy as well.”
Cook also shared his admiration for Johnston and the camaraderie he shares with Burgess, calling it a “pleasure” to play alongside them. He gave a behind-the-scenes look at life with Burgess, one of the game’s greatest modern props. “Every morning, you go through pre pre-season, you go through long days, you go through losses, you go through tough times but you spend 40 minutes in the car with Tommy and a coffee, you get out ready for training,” he shared.
On a more personal note, Cook reflected on his personal growth while at the Rabbitohs, as he was shown a photo of his wife, Courtney, and their two young children. “Courtney’s definitely my rock. She’s been a big reason why I’m here today,” he said, reflecting on their journey together. “We were just a young in love couple before we got here and now we’ve got a house, two kids, and another kid on the way. We’ve done all the big milestones while I’ve been at this great club.”
“I’ve obviously been at some other clubs but this is definitely home for me.”
Shown a photo of him and his young son practicing goal kicking at Souths training, Cook stated that it’s “one of my favourite pictures now.”
“That’s all he does all day. He kicks that footy. It was pretty awesome that he got to be there for that game (Cook’s 200th) where I was doing some goalkicking,” he said.
As for his daughter, the hooker revealed her bond with the club is as strong as his.
“We’ve had to break it to her softly that we’re leaving the Bunnies,” he said.
“She’s going to miss it just as much as me.”
Later in the video, Cook doubled down on what the Rabbitohs meant to him: “Like I said before, I’ve been around a few clubs but South Sydney’s home for me. I’m just going away for a bit.”
As fate would have it, Cook’s first game for the Rabbitohs came against fierce rivals the Sydney Roosters – a 42-10 win in Round 1 of 2016 – as did his last game – a 36-28 loss in Round 27 this season.
“Funny how that figures out,” he said.