They call him `Mr Professional’, and he has been charged with kickstarting Canterbury’s premiership assault in the absence of their State of Origin stars.
Damien Cook will be the latest playmaker to fill the Bulldogs’ No.7 jersey against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium on Sunday as the NRL club seek to bounce back from heavy back-to-back defeats to last year’s grand finalists.
After seven straight wins the Bulldogs have fallen 32-12 to premiers the Sydney Roosters and 32-10 to Manly and face another tough challenge in round 14 against the resurgent Eels.
Former St George Illawarra utility Cook, nicknamed `Mr Professional’ by teammates, will make his NRL debut for the Dogs at halfback after two first grade appearances for the Dragons last year.
With Blues halfback Trent Hodkinson and five-eighth Josh Reynolds missing due to NSW duty and boom rookie Moses Mbye out with a foot injury, much playmaking responsibility will fall to Cook, who will partner Reni Maitua in the Bulldogs’ makeshift halves.
Dogs fullback Sam Perrett says 22-year-old relative unknown Cook is up to the task.
“He is a good guy who all the boys know is going to do his job,” Perrett said.
“Through all the tough stuff in the off season you get to know the players pretty well and he definitely handled the tough times really well and he trained really hard.
“He is a professional. Mr Professional they call him, I think that says it all.
“Watching him in reserve grade he is very steady in all sort of conditions.
“Whether the boys are going good, whether they are struggling he always has that character where you can rely on him and in first grade that is pretty much a requisite.”
Cook struggled to overcome a hand injury earlier this season but in-form centre Tim Lafai is confident he is ready for the step up to the NRL.
“He is a utility back. He has played a bit of fullback, hooker, in the halves – it is a good thing for us to have him there,” he said.
“He is real quick and consistent, he is tough around the middle. That is what we need.”
Josh Jackson added: “Damien will bring a lot of energy to the team, he is strong, he is fast he is fit, he will be in for a big one.”
