Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues hooker Damien Cook is thriving under Wayne Bennett at Redfern but it's a quirky trait from the new South Sydney coach that has really caught his attention.
"Wayne's a pretty funny old bloke, quick-witted," Cook told Big Sports Breakfast.
"Doesn't shake hands really, you only get one hand shake a week.
"I always try and sneak another one in there but he always remembers whose hand he shakes."
Big Sports Breakfast hosts Terry Kennedy and Laurie Daley laughed in agreeance with Cook. Kennedy has experienced the same rejection himself in the past while Daley revealed his strategy was to leave his hand out until Bennett shook it.
Cook said Bennett was impressed by his playing skills on the field in the 2018 season, which saw the South Sydney hooker graduate from battling it out for a starting spot at the Rabbitohs to the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues and Kangaroos hooker.
The Souths No.9 added there had been little change at training with Bennett and assistant coach Jason Demetriou still settling in at Redfern, but a shift in structure is on the cards to give Cook more control of 'the ruck.'
"I can play with my forwards a little more through the middle," Cook said.
"He (Bennett) wants me to keep my style of play and wants to add a few things, take pressure off the halves, control in the middle a bit more and controlling the game."
