Beach sprinting was just the start of Damien Cook's NRL story
It's been a long time since Damien Cook was known merely as a beach sprint champion, but ahead of the champion hooker's final NRL game, all the old stories are being told one last time.
Damien Cook, the 35-year-old St George Illawarra skipper, will play his final NRL match before joining Castleford in the Super League next year. His farewell game will take place at the Wollongong Showground, a ground close to the ocean where the sound of waves crashing can almost be heard. Cook, a champion beach sprinter in his youth, has made numerous memorable moments throughout his 10-year career.
He will be remembered as one of the best hookers in rugby league history, playing the seventh-most matches of any dummy half. Among his favorite matches are his debut for St George Illawarra, his first game at Wollongong, his first Origin match, and his debut at South Sydney. Cook's career has been marked by numerous highlights, including a crucial try against Queensland, his performance at the 2019 decider, and his remarkable intercept during a test match against Tonga.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Cook has always given his all, and his memories are a testament to the joy and camaraderie that rugby league can bring.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
