Cook in hot reply at being panned

SOUTH Sydney hooker Damien Cook has hit back at critics who suggest he has failed to perform in the Rabbitohs’ past three preliminary final losses.

As the Rabbitohs prepare for Friday night’s grand final qualifier against Manly, Cook jumped to his own defence concerning question marks over his finals form.

The star No.9 (pictured) has been criticised for failing to produce in the big moments during the Rabbitohs’ three consecutive preliminary final defeats to the Sydney Roosters, Canberra and Penrith.

Cook believes the critics are just looking for a scapegoat to blame for the Bunnies’ preliminary final failings.

“I think those past games is just people trying to find reasons why we lost,” Cook said.

“If they can find me a reason of what I actually did wrong, let me know.”

Cook insists he is perfectly prepared for Friday’s grand final qualifier against the in-form Sea Eagles following a week off.

He is also confident he and his Rabbitohs teammates have taken valuable lessons from their past three preliminary final losses.

“I think so; I’d like to think I’ve learnt from them,” he said.

“I definitely feel pretty relaxed going into this one. I’m confident with where the team is at and I’m feeling nice and fresh. The body is feeling good.”

Meanwhile, suspended South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell has been impersonating Manly star Tom Trbojevic to help his team’s preliminary final cause.

As Souths aim to emulate Melbourne and shut down Trbojevic in Friday’s grand final qualifier, the Rabbitohs revealed Mitchell’s vital role in taming “Turbo”.

The former premiershipwinning Rooster has been running lines as a bigger body at training, like Trbojevic does, to help his teammates prepare for the challenge of containing the NRL’s most potent attacking player.