Damien Cook is relishing the opportunity to finish his footballing year on a high, captaining the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII team before making a fresh start at the Dragons next year.
“This is a nice way to finish it, that's for sure,” Cook said of his selection to lead the side after signing off on his time with the Rabbitohs.
“It's been a hell of a year to be honest, a lot of learnings to be taken out as a team and for me, individually as well. A lot of ups and downs, a lot of positives as well.
“We went through some stuff at the start with the coach [Jason Demetriou] losing his job, but the good thing for him is he coaching PNG now; I always knew he was going to pick up another job sooner rather than later.
"But for me, I made a decision quite early to be going with the Dragons, which was probably the best thing for me to do to enjoy the rest of my time in South Sydney and the club and (coach) Benny Hornby definitely made sure I enjoyed myself.
“It's a real honour (to captain the PM XIII side), very special and part of my career that I'll get to look back on one day.
“But at the moment, I have a very important job, I have to make sure we go over there and get the job done, but it’s definitely a highlight of my career, that's for sure … when moments like this have popped up (you take them), and I get a chance to wear the green and gold again, which is always special.”
While Cook has been tasked with helping guide some of the younger players through their first experience in Australian colours, playing in Port Moresby is something that will be new to him, with coach Brad Fittler saying he was glad to be sharing the experience with the 216-game veteran during Sunday's game.
“The good thing about Cookie is he's never been to Papua New Guinea, so for a lot of those experienced players that actually never get to go to New Guinea and understand their love for the game – given talk about expansion and what's going on at the moment – I think most of the players actually haven't been up there," Fittler said.
“It'd be a shame if you're a good rugby league player that got to the highest level and never went to New Guinea.
“It is just a different place and it not only makes you feel very grateful; but to understand how much they love the game, it's nice to feel it firsthand.”
Cook said it was a trip he'd "always wanted to do" after hearing about the fans embrace the game and it's players.
“I haven't been able to make this side before, so I'm really excited to get up there and see what it's all about," Cook said.
“The boys who have been on this trip before speak highly of how special this trip is, how memorable it is as well.
“It’s a country who absolutely loves rugby league, so I hope we can go over there and give them a good show and put some smiles on the faces over there.
“But it's definitely going to put a smile on our face going over there, how much they love rugby league and embrace us when we're there.”
The team includes rising players in the game including Lachlan Galvin and Kaeo Weekes as well others who had arguably their best season for their clubs, like St George Illawarra hooker Jacob Liddle.
“Teamwork, not a battle,” Cook laughed when asked about how the pair would fight it out for the starting role at the Dragons next season.
“It'll be teamwork; we'll be working together really well.
“He had a great season this year; he would have been one of The Dragons' top two players for the whole season.
"We'll make it work and we'll be a good little combination there that hopefully can put the Dragons back up towards the top of the ladder where they belong.
“Obviously, I have got to go down there for pre-season (and) first, you have got to earn the right and that's what I want to do first, is go down there and earn the right and the respect of my new teammates.
“(But) it's been good to train alongside him and get to know him and it's obviously going to make it a little bit easier when I walk in first day training at Dragons. (Can) feel like first day of school, so it'd be good to have met a couple of face before I get there.”
