An NRL rival is reportedly set to table an offer to poach former representative hooker Damien Cook from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The surprising news comes after Cook was axed earlier this season by Jason Demetriou to the NSW Cup and has previously been linked with an exit from the club.
Although he is contracted until the end of 2025 on a deal worth around $650,000 per season,ย The Heraldย reports that the St George Illawarra Dragons have tabled him a two-year contract to recruit his services.
It is understood that the Rabbitohs will not be offering him a new contract after the expiration of his current deal after recently re-signing young dummy-half Peter Mamouzelos on a long-term deal until the end of 2027.
The publication reports that Super League club Huddersfield Giants have also made direct inquiries to the Rabbitohs in a bid to lure him overseas on a two-year contract.
runs the ball during the round five NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors at Sunshine Coast Stadium on April 13, 2019 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
A former NSW Blues and Kangaroos representative, Cook's future has been in limbo due to the Rabbitohs' poor form over the past two seasons and salary cap restraints.
The nephew of former rugby league player Peter Phillips, Cook began his career in the Penrith Panthers junior system before making his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2013.
Since then he had a stint at the Canterbury Bulldogs and made 195 appearances for the Rabbitohs from 2016 onwards where he has managed to play for the NSW Blues 17 times and Australia four times.
It is understood that the South Sydney Rabbitohs will not stand in the way if he was able to secure a longer contract with a rival team in the NRL or an ov
