Damien Cook Poised for Dragons Contract Extension Beyond 2026
Veteran hooker Damien Cook is on the verge of securing a one-year contract extension with the St George Illawarra Dragons, a move that would see him continue his NRL career past his 36th birthday. The deal, currently in negotiation stages, is expected to keep Cook at the joint venture club through the 2027 season, marking his third year with the Dragons since joining from South Sydney.
Experience and Leadership Valued in Dragons Rebuild
Cook's potential extension underscores the Dragons' commitment to blending seasoned campaigners with emerging talent as they pursue their first finals appearance since 2018. Despite bench hooker Jacob Liddle outperforming Cook in 2025, club officials have assured the off-contract co-captain that there is a place for him in the 2027 squad. Cook's leadership and extensive experience are viewed as critical assets in the Dragons' ongoing rebuilding efforts under coach Shane Flanagan.
"They're keen to keep me on so we're just sort of going through that stuff at the moment," Cook told AAP. "Being a bit older, I've probably been a little bit more involved in this one so I've enjoyed that part of it as well. No doubt it'll get done soon. I'm not in the biggest rush but you just like to get them out of the way early and sort it out so we can get on with the season."
Late Career Start and Rigorous Routine Fuel Longevity
Cook credits his ability to extend his career to a combination of meticulous recovery practices and a delayed entry into regular first-grade football. After stints at Penrith, the Dragons, and Canterbury, he finally established himself as a mainstay at South Sydney in 2016 at age 24. His subsequent achievements include winning the Dally M Hooker of the Year award in 2018, representing New South Wales in 17 State of Origin matches, and helping the Rabbitohs reach the 2021 NRL Grand Final across 207 games for the club.
"I've put a lot of emphasis on my recovery, it's always been important to me throughout my career," Cook explained. "My body feels really good and it comes down to a lot of hard work that I've put into it as well but definitely the late start of my career definitely can help me play a bit longer."
Inspired by Emerging Dragons Talent
The presence of promising young players at the Dragons has further motivated Cook to continue playing. He highlighted the club's array of elite emerging forwards, such as Toby and Ryan Couchman, Dylan Egan, and Hamish Stewart, along with off-season backline recruits Setu Tu and David Fale, who have impressed during pre-season training.
"They're just a good bunch to work with, and you take a lot of stuff out of last year, all the close losses. It'll be pointless not to build on that if we don't do that this year," Cook remarked, expressing optimism about the team's potential growth and competitiveness in the upcoming seasons.
