Why the Dragons may have a dilemma after Cook signing

Australian rugby league legend Cameron Smith and Denan Kemp have revealed the dilemma the St George Illawarra Dragons face after the announcement the club signed South Sydney star Damien Cook.

Cook is set to join Shane Flanagan’s side next season following the signing of a two-year deal as the club continues its return to relevancy under the 2016 Cronulla Sharks premiership coach.

But despite welcoming in someone of the stature of Cook, who made his NRL debut with the Dragons, Smith and Kemp said on The Captain’s Run St George may have some issues after the impressive form of current dummyhalf Jacob Liddle.

“Big news, Cooky gone from the Rabbits, he started at the Dragons and he’s from down that way,” Smith said.

“He’s a local boy, it’d be good for him to go back, you’d assume it’d be the last couple of years of his career… I’m not saying he needs to retire but I’m just saying it’s getting towards the end now.

“It’s interesting because they’ve got Jacob Liddle there as well, who I think has been playing some pretty good football throughout this season, and he’s a pretty handy dummy half.

“So maybe they share that role.

“There’s no doubt that Wayne, even though he’s still coaching the Dolphins, he’d be doing some work in the background for the Rabbits.”

Kemp, a former winger for the Brisbane Broncos and NZ Warriors, echoed Smith’s comments the pair may share the No.9 role next season.

“I like it, from the perspective of just getting some high quality players in that roster (St George) in key positions,” Kemp said.

“I’d feel a bit hard done by if I was (Jacob) Liddle but at the same time I would understand and assume, the Dragons aren’t getting (Cook) there to be an 80-minute hooker.

“Even though he looks as fit as ever and like he can get through 80 minutes, if you want to get longevity out of a guy like Cooky, whose more of an explosive hooker rather than a crafty hooker… I’d assume they’d be sharing that role between each player.”

Cook will leave the Rabbitohs with one season remaining on his current contract.