Cook rises from the canvas after living Ali’s inspirational words

Its appropriate that a mantra Muhammad Ali lived by is also one Damien Cook sought inspiration from when he was on the canvas.

“If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, my body can achieve it.”

The phrase, tattooed on Cooks ribcage, is one he has lived by. It originated from one of the worlds first self-help gurus, Napoleon Hill, was popularised by Ali and, after a slight tweaking, holds particular significance for the NSW hooker and his family.

Cooks older brother, Simon, appeared destined for a stellar rugby league career of his own. That all changed when he broke the L4 and L5 discs in his back in his teens. During a dark period, fellow Helensburgh product and Olympic medal-winning Australian water polo goalie Alicia McCormack sent Simon a letter containing that famous line in a bid to lift his spirits.

“That sat on my wall for a long time and Damien took that on as his mantra as well,” Simon says.

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His younger sibling has also had his fair share of setbacks. Like growing up with a raft of ear problems that, when two years of wearing hearing aids didnt do the trick, required surgery to totally reconstruct his eardrum. Had it not been for the assistance of hearing-support teachers at Endeavour High, one of the schools fastest could have fallen behind academically.

Then theres all the gun hookers he had to leapfrog. Cook has played second fiddle to the likes of Mitch Rein, Michael Ennis, Michael Lichaa and Robbie Farah, but his pathway appeared blocked well before then. Cameron King was the best schoolboy No.9 at the time and just happened to also attend the same school.

Cook was often told he wouldnt make it, but was determined to add to his familys footballing tradition. His cousin, John Green, played for the Bulldogs, Dragons and Sharks. Uncle Peter Phillips also knocked out a first-grade career for the Steelers, Tigers and Dragons. Cook was desperate to do likewise.

“Every time he got knocked back, wed tell him it was only one mans opinion,” says his father, Graham.

There are photos of Cook wearing the sky blue jersey from a young age, an indication of how much representing his state means to him. However, it was national honours that he sought before finishing high school.

The zippy dummy half captained a Combined High Schools team against France, but missed the cut when it came to the Australian side.

“When he was going through year 12, his dream was to wear green and gold in a sport,” recalls his mother, Anne. “He was hoping it would be rugby league.”

Devastated at missing out, he reset his goals. There was still a green and gold jersey to be earned. So Cook switched to rugby union.

“We were like, Damian, youve never played rugby union, you dont even know the rules,” Anne says.

Cook trudged off with another current Blue, Tyson Frizell, ot try their hand in the 15-man game.

“In the end, he made the Australia A team in rugby union, having never played before," Anne says. "He got to wear the green and gold. He wanted to put on that jersey. Hes a very determined young man.”

So impressive were his performances in rugby, the Brumbies were one of the clubs that expressed interest in his services. Even Geelong suggested he focus on a third code after he impressed in a schoolyard AFL game. However, the junior surf lifesaving champion had his heart set on league. Bugger the odds.

“I told him the worst thing you could ever do – and I never got the tip because I was an angry little man – is to hold your chin up,” Phillips says.

“If you get knocked down, dont be the morbid bastard walking around thinking the world is coming to an end because youve been dropped or whatever.

“He always had that fire, that craziness about him that spurred him on. Hes very determined. When he puts his mind to something, its holy good night.”

The backyard battles with Simon, five years his senior, and his older cousins put Damien in good stead. It was here that he utilised his speed and developed the rat cunning required to be a dummy half.

“He probably unfairly got beaten in a lot of backyard games," Simon says. "He was always very tough.

“We were playing tackle and he worked out if you sprinted along the fence, that I wouldnt tackle him. He was about 14 or 15, hed sprint down the fence and then step inside me. It was then that I realised he is not just a fast footballer, hes a smart footballer.”

Few have worked harder to get to the NRL. Fewer still have worked as hard to stay there. Cook made his first-grade debut for the Dragons in 2013. Four years later he arrived at Redfern, after a stint at Canterbury, and his NRL games tally remained in single digits. While in reserve grade, he supplementing his income with odd jobs, while completing courses in human movement and as a teachers aide.

“He mowed lawns out at Penrith, poured beers in Helensburgh,” Simon says. “He just kept sticking at it.”

Having finally taken Robbie Farahs No.9 jersey at the Rabbitohs, Cook now has the opportunity to take over from his teammate as the next long-term NSW rake.

“It has been a bit of an up-and-down sort of roller coaster, but thats footy and a lot of us have to go through that,” Cook says in his understated way.

“This is definitely one of the highs. Its something Im proud of that when I did get knocked back, I didnt just give up. Im proud of myself for sticking in there.”

With Cameron Smith retiring from representative football, there could be higher honours still. Regardless, Cook gives hope to every kid who has had a door shut in his face. Because if you conceive it, and your heart believes it, you can achieve it.

“Growing up, the cousins always said they wanted to grow up being like Mark and Peter, my two brothers,” Anne says.

“Now Damien will inspire the next generation of the family. I think that is beautiful.”

Adrian Proszenko is the Chief Rugby League Reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.

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