He faces a tough task to unseat Robbie Farah as preferred hooker, but Damien Cook has re-signed with NRL club South Sydney.
Cook has knocked back a reported offer to replace the retired Michael Ennis at premiers Cronulla to stay at Redfern until at least the end of 2019.
The 25-year-old spent much of the 2016 season playing off the bench behind first-choice hooker Cameron McInnes, who has left to join St George Illawarra following NSW representative Farah's arrival from Wests Tigers.
But Cook impressed enough in his 17 games this year to earn the new two-year deal, with an injury to McInnes allowing him to play 80 minutes in each of the Rabbitohs' last five games.
It is expected Cook will be an understudy to Farah, 32, who also signed a two-year deal.
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But Cook is considered a long-term prospect given his star teammate's age.
