St George Illawarra Dragons have confirmed that their dummy half will leave the club at the end of 2026, with plans to move to the English Super League.
The player, who has been in discussions with the Dragons in the past, had to wait for his future after the club imposed an internal contract freeze across its playing group following a poor start to the season. This period saw the sacking of coach Shane Flanagan after the team suffered seven consecutive losses.
According to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler, the hooker has signed a two-year contract with the Castleford Tigers. He is set to relocate for the 2027 and 2028 campaigns before retiring from professional rugby league.
In a media release, Cook and the Dragons officially announced the news.
“Captaining the Dragons has been one of the proudest experiences of my career,” Cook said. “As a kid from the area, it has meant a lot to me to start and end my NRL journey here.”
“My full focus right now is on doing everything I can for this team and this club over the remainder of 2026. I’ve loved my time at the Dragons, and I’m determined to finish it the right way.”
The Dragons’ interim coach, Dean Young, also shared his thoughts on Cook’s impact.
“I think Cookie’s legacy will be that he refused to give up,” Young added.
“It took him until 25 years of age to find his place in the NRL, and then to go on and play as many Origins, Tests, and NRL games as he did just shows every kid that, if you refuse to give up, you’re always a chance.
“It was great to get Cookie back in the Red V as a player that came from the area, and the Dragons are in a better place for having him walk back through the doors.”
The 34-year-old will conclude his sporting career in the Super League, but not without aiming to reach over 250 appearances in the NRL.
Currently sitting at 248 games, the veteran played most of his career at the Rabbitohs before returning to his debut club, the Dragons, last season.
The Dragons CEO, Tim Watsford, also commented on the loss of Cook, thanking him for his contributions to the club since his return.
“Damien has been a valued member of this club since coming back prior to last season,” Watsford said.
“As a kid from Helensburgh who would go on to represent his state and country whilst captaining his club, Damien is an inspiration for so many young kids in our region. Few players in our game command the respect he does, and his leadership, attitude, and hard work have proven pivotal for our club.
“We wish Damien, his wife Courtney, and his three children the best of luck moving forward.”
The Dragons have faced a challenging start to the season, which continued on Anzac Day with a disappointing loss to the Sydney Roosters, marking their eighth straight defeat.
