Farewell Tom Burgess & Damien Cook
By Steve Mavin for Bunnies TV.
That’s All Folks!
At full time on Friday night 2 Rabbitohs legends will depart the club, marking the end of an era.
Thomas Burgess and Damien Cook have been integral members of the Souths forward pack for so long that many young fans wouldn’t remember a time when either one these champion players weren’t representing the red and green.
Tommy B
Big Tommy Burgess is the last remaining Burgess brother to leave. In 2013 they made rugby league history by becoming the first set of four siblings to play for a first grade side in the same game for more than a century.
Dewsbury-born Sam, Luke and twins Tom and George helped South Sydney beat Wests Tigers to lead the NRL.
In 2014 Tom, George and Sam all played in the Rabbitohs 21st Premiership win over the Bulldogs. In todays press conference Tom pointed out that Luke also played first grade that year so he too deserves credit.
Cookie
When much loved hooker Issac Luke left Souths in 2015, the Rabbitohs signed Cook from 2016 and it wasn’t long before he had taken the reins of the 9 jersey from local junior Cameron McInnes. McInnes signed with the Dragons from 2017 so ‘Cookie’ became the Bunnies speedy man in the middle.
Over the years Cookie has always been approachable for Rabbitohs members and fans. In particular Damien became close to loyal South Sydney fans the Cini family. He would always make time to sit and have a coffee or a chat with Noela and Michael Cini at Rubyniks Cafe in Miranda whenever he would see them.
In 2021 when Michael passed Cookie headed straight up to Noela in the stands to present her with his game jersey after a win over the Roosters. It was a beautiful moment that will be long be remembered by all who saw it.
NRL
The Rabbitohs squad for round 27 of the 2024 NRL Premiership against the Sydney Roosters to be played this Friday 6 September at 8pm at Accor Stadium. The club will pay tribute to the 14th Immortal, Ron Coote AM, in the second leg of the Ron Coote Cup for season 2024.
Rabbitohs interim Head Coach Ben Hornby has named Richie Kennar in the centres, Cody Walker at five-eighth, Dean Hawkins at halfback, Thomas Burgess at starting prop, Keaon Koloamatangi in the second-row and Tallis Duncan at lock, for the second leg of the Ron Coote Cup for season 2024, a trophy named after the legendary Ron Coote AM, which will be presented to the winning team at full time. The winner is determined by the aggregate scores across both regular season games played between the clubs each year.
Ron Coote
Ron Coote AM will be celebrated at this Friday’s game with a lap of honour around Accor Stadium before kick-off in the new MG cyberster all electric roadster, including video packages and an interview for the crowd attending the match.
Mr Coote will also deliver the match ball prior to kick off, with the Rabbitohs inviting the Roosters to join them in forming a guard of honour for the winner of six premierships from nine Grand Final appearances for both clubs during his 15-year playing career. The Rabbitohs will be joined by past players of the Club in the guard of honour as they celebrate Old Boys Day at Accor Stadium, along with members of Mr Coote’s family, and young footballers representing Mr Coote’s junior club, Kensington United.
Tallis Duncan
The Rabbitohs lock forward in this game, Tallis Duncan, will wear the famous number eight jersey worn by Mr Coote throughout his playing career, a career which earned him the moniker the ‘Prince of Locks’. The gold eight which will be on the jersey for this match signifies the reverence in which Mr Coote is held at the South Sydney Rabbitohs, who now stands alongside his former premiership-winning coach, Clive Churchill AM, as the Rabbitohs’ second Immortal.
This will be the final South Sydney game for Rabbitohs stalwarts Thomas Burgess and Damien Cook before they move to new clubs next season. This will be Burgess’ 249th NRL game for South Sydney, with Cook playing in his 207th first grade game in the red and green on Friday night. The Rabbitohs will farewell Burgess, Cook and other departing players at Accor Stadium on Friday night.
Milestones
Siliva Havili is set to play the 150th NRL game of his career this Friday night against the Roosters. Havili made his NRL debut for the Warriors against the Bulldogs in round six, 2014, and has played 45 NRL games for the Rabbitohs so far in his career.
Sean Keppie has been selected to play the 100th NRL game of his career on Friday night, having made his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles against the Eels in round 25, 2019, and has played 20 matches for South Sydney this season.
Richie Kennar will also celebrate a milestone match, playing his 50th NRL game of his career on Friday, having made his NRL debut for the Storm against the Panthers in round 13, 2015, having played 26 NRL games for South Sydney since his first stint with the Club in 2018.
Members
For Members and supporters heading to Accor Stadium on Friday night, 5,000 collectible Ron Coote posters will be handed out to the first 5,000 people through the gates. Gates at Accor Stadium will open at 7pm on Friday night, with kick off for the NRL game scheduled for 8pm.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ squad for the round 27 clash with the Roosters is:
1- Jye Gray
2- Tyrone Munro
3- Taane Milne
4- Richie Kennar
5- Jacob Gagai
6- Cody Walker (c)
7- Dean Hawkins
13- Davvy Moale
9- Damien Cook
10- Thomas Burgess
11- Keaon Koloamatangi
12- Jacob Host
8- Tallis Duncan
Interchange:
14- Peter Mamouzelos
15- Liam Le Blanc
16- Sean Keppie
17- Siliva Havili
18- Michael Chee Kam
19- Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson
20- Brock Gray
21- Fletcher Myers
22- Dion Teaupa
Coach – Ben Hornby
Women’s Team
The South Sydney Rabbitohs Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership team will play the Illawarra Steelers at Ziems Park in Wollongong on Saturday 7 September at 3pm in their second-last regular season match of the 2024 season.
Hannah Kalland has been added to the bench. Ashanti Pennell gets the 18 jersey.
The Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership team to play Illawarra is:
1- Kiana Takairangi
2- Daisy Gordon
3- Abbie Ritchie
4- Shanelle Lyons
5- Paige Knapp
6- Kiara McGregor
7- Maddie Studdon (c)
8- Chloe Buttigieg
9- Mikayla Langer
10- Ashlea Nolan
11- Portia Bourke
12- Jazmon Tupou-Witchman
13- Khyliah Gray
Interchange:
14- Sian Filipo
15- Anastasia Shum-Cottrell
16- Hannah Kalland
17- Janaya Trapman
18- Ashanti Pennell
Coach – Jason Dorahy
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