Damien Cook Signs Two-Year Castleford Tigers Deal From 2027
damien cook has reportedly signed a two-year deal with Castleford Tigers that starts in 2027, ending his latest contract talks with St George Illawarra. The move covers 2027 and 2028 and comes as the Dragons prepare for Jacob Liddle to take over as their full-time hooker.
Cook Heads to Castleford
The 34-year-old veteran had been in discussions about an extension with the Dragons until recently, but those talks were put on hold when Shane Flanagan departed as coach. Friday's report placed Cook on a path to England after 248 NRL games across the Dragons, Bulldogs and Rabbitohs.
Cook's career has stretched back to his NRL debut for St George Illawarra in 2013, before he spent most of his football from 2016 to 2024 at South Sydney. He has also played 17 State of Origin games for NSW and four Tests for Australia, giving Castleford a player with far more top-level rugby league miles than the usual late-career import.
Dragons Turn to Liddle
St George Illawarra now have to move on without one of their best performers in a woeful 2026 season so far. Liddle, 29, is set to become the full-time starter, while Haele Finau, a 25-year-old NSW Cup hooker, is highly regarded inside the club.
The Dragons are already dealing with another departure from the same group of senior players. Jaydn Su'A, 28, opted out of the final year of his contract to join Parramatta on a three-year deal, and Parramatta have enquired about getting him immediately; the Dragons have reportedly denied that request.
That leaves Cook as the second State of Origin player to move on in recent weeks, after Su'A's exit. For St George Illawarra, the practical answer is clear: Liddle gets the first shot, Finau remains the next name in reserve, and the club's hooker depth will now be judged on how quickly those two can absorb Cook's workload.
Su'A Exit Adds Pressure
The wider squeeze on the Dragons' roster is the part that sits behind the Cook deal. They have lost a 34-year-old hooker with 248 NRL games, a NSW Origin player in Su'A, and a long-run first-choice structure has already been replaced by younger options.
For Cook, the move settles his future for 2027 and 2028. For the Dragons, it turns a contract story into a selection decision, and the next few months will show whether Liddle can hold the job while the club keeps Finau in the frame.
