COOK KEEN FOR WORLD CUP SHOT
SOUTH Sydney Origin star Damien Cook has declared his desire to play in the World Cup for Australia despite doubts hanging over the Kangaroos participating in the England-based event.
The Australians are yet to officially commit to the Cup, which will be played across Great Britain for five weeks from October 23. The ARL Commission is reportedly unlikely to give the
Kangaroos the green light to compete as it has concerns around player safety.
World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton couldn’t guarantee Australia would compete, although he remained hopeful the world champions would play.
Cook, though, is happy to travel to England for the Cup, even if it means he has to leave behind his family following an already full-on NRL season inside a Queensland-based hub.
“Look, it is going to be a long time away from home, but I’m not passing up the opportunity to possibly be a part of the World Cup that is for sure,” Cook said.
“The opportunity to play in a World Cup, if I was selected I’d want to be a part of it. I understand they have to go through the right things to make sure they protect the players, but if it is a chance to go to the World Cup and I’m picked, I would be wanting to go over there.”
Until then, Cook is focused on South Sydney’s run to the finals and potentially a premiership. He believes the Rabbitohs are perfectly placed sitting in third position with seven rounds remaining in the regular season.
“I think we are building nicely,” he said.
“We understand that there are the top two sides in the competition, but I personally believe we are the best of the rest and we are playing some good footy.”