Damien Cook may have had to settle for a bench role in State of Origin II but the Blues hooker says he's enjoying taking on Queensland while fully fresh.
Despite being one of NSW's most experienced players, Damien Cook admitted to being a ball of nervous energy after being consigned to a bench role in State of Origin II.
Cook has been an ever-present for Brad Fittler at hooker but after opening the 2022 series with a loss the Blues coach sought radical change.
The South Sydney star has played 14 Origins - a record only bettered by James Tedesco (18 games) in the current Blues set-up - but was brought on in an interchange role in tandem with Api Koroisau in Origin II in Perth.
It worked to great effect with Cook finding time to pick his moments and get out of dummy-half to trouble the Maroons' defence after coming off the bench.
"Once I got out there and got into the game, I really enjoyed the role," Cook told AAP ahead of Wednesday's decider at Suncorp Stadium.
"When you start the game you get the first tackle and run out of the way and you calm down.
"I was sort of watching like a fan on the bench there and the nerves are going through the roof."
Fittler's response to game one was partly prompted by the ease in which Queensland cut the Blues apart.
With Ben Hunt starting at hooker and Harry Grant coming on the Maroons, who also boasted lightweight lock Reuben Cotter, ran riot with fresher, smaller bodies flooding the middle of the park.
"They dominated the ruck and it's something we worked hard on for the second game," Cook said.
"That allows the likes of Api and myself to be able to take our chances when we can.
"If not then (being fresh) we can give good service to the rest of the boys to do the damage."
The use of two hookers is nothing new but Cook said it gives teams a point of difference and one which could become a mainstay at Origin level.
"At the moment that's what has worked for both teams," he said.
"It worked well for them in game one and for us in game two and it's 1-1 now.
"It (having a secondary hooker) is definitely a big part in the intensity of Origin.
"I think at the moment that the bench is always carrying some sort of utility because you never know where you're going to have an injury."
The Blues announced Cronulla forward Dale Finucane would join the extended squad for Origin III.
Finucane has made five Origin appearances and was called into camp after Fittler moved Jacob Saifiti from the extended bench into the starting side as an injury replacement for Jordan McLean.
Fittler is yet to determine whether Finucane will train with the Blues, given he played 59 minutes in the Sharks' 28-6 win over Melbourne on Thursday night.
Finucane joins North Queensland playmaker Chad Townsend in earning a late call-up despite not featuring in the first two games of the series.
