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Rabbitohs stars Robbie Farah (left) and Damien Cook.
ROBBIE Farah’s likely final season in the NRL next year could be made extra tough if Damien Cook has his way.
Cook was handed back the South Sydney No. 9 jersey for this weekend’s clash against Canberra, and plans to keep it for the next six weeks of the season and beyond.
Souths coach Michael Maguire made several positional changes for the Raiders clash, with Cook’s elevation to the starting dummy-half ahead of Farah splitting fans like it did all pre-season.
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Cook, 26, was given the starting role for a few games earlier in the season, and told The Daily Telegraph he would make the most of his second chance.
His injection into the game early in the second half against Cronulla last Friday made Souths looks a lot more dangerous in attack.
“He (Maguire) came up to me yesterday before the team came out and gave me the heads-up I’d be starting,’’ Cook said.
Rabbitohs stars Robbie Farah (left) and Damien Cook.Source:News Corp Australia
“There was no explanation. Hopefully it’s a good change and I can do a job on the field because Robbie has been doing a good job.
“Robbie has good game management.
“I’ll start fast and go out as hard as I can.
“It’s been my role this year to come off the bench and make an impact and try to change the game. I like to get the forwards rolling as well, so I’ll have to manage my game a bit more — I won’t hold back with my running game, but there will need to be more game management at the start of my game.’’
Farah moved to Souths on a two-year deal that was largely paid for this season by former club the Wests Tigers.
He turns 34 next January, but the long-time NSW rake will do everything to win back the No. 9 jersey from his younger teammate.
Cook has become used to starting games late in the season ahead of the preferred hookers. He finished the final five games last year for the injured Cameron McInnes, while he also started the final five games ahead of Michael Lichaa for Canterbury in 2015, including two finals.
He was keen on the match-up with Pommy powerhouse Josh Hodgson, and said he always wanted to test himself against the best.
One-eyed Rabbitohs supporters know their season is over, but the club will do everything to finish with a bang, including scoring points with Cook at dummy-half, and Cody Walker re-united with Adam Reynolds in the halves.
John Sutton returns to the backrow, and said he and Walker had forged a handy combination on the left edge earlier this year, while he praised the speed of Cook out of dummy-half.
Originally published as Farah’s No. 9 return may be Cooked