BULLDOGS SNARE A RABBITOHS HOOKER NAME COOK
James PhelpsAugust 18, 2021 - 4:35PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
The Bulldogs have agreed to sign a South Sydney hooker named Cook – but it isn’t Damien.
In what could prove a recruitment masterstroke, the Bulldogs have continued their multimillion-dollar spending spree by reaching an agreement with rising Rabbitohs star Joshua Cook.
News Corp Australia can reveal Canterbury have struck a deal with the other Cook’s South Sydney understudy after identifying the 22-year-old as the player who could solve their hooking woes.
In another Bulldogs mark made by Phil Gould, the rugby league mastermind was instrumental in getting yet another Canterbury deal done.
“Gus did his homework and helped identify him,” said a source close to the deal.
“He saw a lot of upside in the kid who would have been playing NRL this year if not for an injury.”
A former NSW under 16s-star, Cook’s 2021 season was derailed by a shoulder injury and then Covid.
Despite seeing little football this year, Cook has been earmarked as an NRL player and is expected to be announced as the Bulldogs next signing later this week.
A South Sydney junior who has rifled his way through the junior grades, Cook was touted as a future star by former Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson during his tenure at the top.
“All Josh has needed over the past few seasons to represent at higher levels is luck with injuries, something which unfortunately hasn’t come his way,“ Richardson said.
“However we are seeing his game improve every week in the Canterbury Cup and Jersey Flegg competitions this year and there is still plenty of improvement in him.
“His best football is definitely in front of him.”
His latest Bulldogs signing, Gould is fast making his mark at the Bulldogs after being appointed the club’s General Manager of Football.
Taking a hands-on approach in the Bulldogs rebuild, Gould was pivotal in signing both Tevita Pangi Jr and Paul Vaughan.
Following an eight-year horror show that started in 2013 under former coach Des Hasler, Gould has vowed to return the Bulldogs to a final’s force.
And with the club’s long list of signings including Josh Addo Carr, Matt Burton, Brent Naden and Matt Dufty, all is on track.
The hooking role was seen as the last recruitment hurdle to clear.
Having used Jeremy Marshall King as a makeshift No. 9 and Sione Katoa at dummy half this year, the Bulldogs have not had a game breaking hooker since losing Michael Ennis to the Sharks.
