Souths leaders' session vital to win: Cook
Damien Cook credits a sit-down session with the other senior members of the South Sydney playing group for helping to instil the connection and belief that sealed their elimination final win against the Sydney Roosters.
Referee Ashley Klein issued a record seven sin-bins in Sunday's game at Allianz Stadium and despite twice being reduced to 11 men on two occasions, the Rabbitohs stuck together and emerged from the carnage victorious.
In his first year as head coach, Jason Demetriou has been big on building meaningful connections between the playing group; the team ends each of its training sessions by linking arms and walking laps of Redfern Oval together.
So as the finals approached, Demetriou called the eight most senior players together for a special kind of brainstorming session.
"It was about getting everyone to point out something the other people in the group that they do well, something we love about them," Cook told AAP.
"We spoke about that if the eight of us across the board all do their job, and bring what we bring, it's going to go a long way to winning that game."
At the time, none of the men in the room could have known just how important unity would be in a game as brutal as Sunday's.
"(The session) just built more connection among the group and trust and belief," he said.
"If eight out of 17 of us get that stuff right, it brings the next guy along and we play a lot better."
Cook admitted his first game since a two-week COVID-19 lay-off was tougher on his body than he had anticipated.
"My lungs were hurting, especially in that first half when we went down to 11," he said.
"I underestimated how hard it was going to be and thought I was a bit fresher than what I was."
Cook ended up leaving the field on the hour-mark and while the plan had initially been for him to return, things changed after the Rabbitohs extended their lead through Isaiah Tass.
The hooker was gassed by the end and suffered a knock to his shoulder courtesy of Roosters prop Matt Lodge, but he won't be missing Saturday's semi-final against Cronulla.
"Lodge got me a little bit on the side there. It's just a burner, nothing serious," he said.
"It was a tough game, first week back from COVID-19.
"I was blowing a bit but I'll be much better in the week for it."
