NRL

Veteran St. George Illawarra hooker Damien Cook has just two matches left in his NRL career before heading to Super League in 2027.

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Back into the Dragons’ starting 13 following Jacob Liddle’s season-ending calf injury, the 35-year-old was philosophical about the closing stages of 261-game career that started with the Dragons in 2013 before two years with the Bulldogs and nine with the Rabbitohs.

“It’s been a tough season,” Cook admitted.

“But I made the call nice and early on where I was going next year, so I’ve really just been trying to soak up every moment.”

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Despite a year that will end with the NRL wooden spoon Cook said there was reason for the club’s passionate, yet suffering, fans to be hopeful of a significantly better showing in 2027 — and not just because of the club’s recent player signing spree.

“Part of being a senior player here is making sure I leave the club in a good position,” he said.

“Obviously it hasn’t been the best year (on the field) but I really do think it’s been an important one in terms of setting a standard for how we train and how we go about things now.

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“Next year I think they’re going to have a really positive season off the back of this not-so-good one.”

Looking forward, Cook has no doubt Jacob Liddle is the right man to take the Dragons to another level at No.9 in 2027 and beyond.

“He’s obviously had a tough season with injuries, but I really love where his game is at, especially the last couple of weeks where he was starting, he really deserved that.

“Next year he’s going to have a really good season.”

Cook is one of six St. George Illawarra players departing for Super League in 2027, where he is set to join Castleford Tigers along with Dragons teammates Mathew Feagai and Tyrell Sloan.

It remains unclear what the sudden departure of Ryan Carr as Castleford coach — a former Dragons assistant and interim head coach — means for the trio and their contracts.

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