Cook chooses his successor at Souths

Damien Cook has declared Peter Mamouzelos is the man who should replace him at South Sydney next year, with the Dragons-bound dummy-half warning club bosses to not go to market when a quality replacement is “right under your nose”.

Cook told teammates during the week that he’d be heading to St George Illawarra for the final two years of his career, having made his NRL debut for the Red V back in 2013 before a short stint with the Bulldogs.

He has since become one of the best hookers of the modern era, with his speed around the ruck turning Souths into an attacking juggernaut, while he’s also been excellent at rep level.

With Cook leaving, the Bunnies will have money to chase another hooker having already gone after Jeremy Marshall-King who decided this week to re-sign with the Dolphins.

But the veteran says there’s no need to look elsewhere given Mamouzelos is already at the club, with the local junior locked in until 2027 and impressing this season with more minutes under his belt.

Cook chooses his successor at Souths

“They won’t get anyone else. He’s the one,” Cook said, with Mamouzelos replacing him in the starting side against Cronulla earlier this year.

“I’ve been working alongside Pete for three years, but it feels like he’s been here a lot longer. He knows the system, he knows the plays, and he’ll do that job just fine.

“I’ve loved training alongside him, and I even get to play alongside him now. I think he’s going to do the job fine and there’ll be no issues there.

“He’s the man for the club to back, and I’m sure they’ll do that. There’s no need to look elsewhere when it’s right under your nose.

“No doubt me and him will work closely for the rest of the year, because one thing is for certain is that you’ve got to leave this jersey in a better place. I’ll continue to do that until I pass on the reins.”

That could be a little longer than everyone expected with Souths suddenly in the mix for a shock finals berth after winning four on the trot, with Cook the standout with two assists in their 14-0 win over Manly to cap a tough month for the much loved rake.

“It’s been a really tough few weeks going back four or five weeks now,” he said.

“(I’ve known for) maybe a couple of weeks, maybe a bit longer because it’s all been a bit of a blur the whole process. It was always going to (happen pretty quickly). Because we’ve been playing footy and winning, the weeks have ticked over.

“I didn’t want it to drag on, and my family and management didn’t want it to either. I felt like I should get it out of the way and move on and enjoy what’s in front of us.

“But the boys we’ve got here are so good to be around and I love being around them and coming in every day.

“I’ve got a good support crew around me as well. I’ve spoken to the right people that I feel I needed to with a decision like this, but it was a tough week with the boys.

“It was hard to tell them that (I was leaving) but all I can do is keep enjoying every moment with those boys and keep going out and doing my best for the team.

“At the moment it’s real mixed emotions for me, but I’m just happy that we’re winning games and enjoying each other’s company and playing good footy.”