Defying the naysayers, South Sydney have swatted away talk their premiership window has slammed shut as the Rabbitohs once again eye the NRL's top four in 2022.
With super-coach Wayne Bennett and influential captain Adam Reynolds both defecting to Queensland clubs, veteran playmaker Benji Marshall retiring and fellow rep stars Dane Gagai and Jaydn Su'a moving on, the critics have been quick to write off the 2021 grand finalists.
But hooker Damien Cook says he's heard it all before, pointing out the departures of club greats Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and 2014 premiership-winning captain John Sutton triggered similar doubts about the Rabbitohs' title prospects in recent years.
Yet Souths still qualified for three consecutive preliminary finals before finishing runners-up to Penrith last year when they went within a Reynolds sideline conversion of setting up extra time.
Little wonder Cook isn't buying into talk the Rabbitohs under new captain Cameron Murray and first-year NRL coach Jason Demetriou can't be heavyweight contenders again this season.
"That's been the comments for the past few years when we lost Greg, then we lost Sam and we lost Sutto and Reyno," Cook said on Tuesday.
"It's just like every club, we've got some great players here that just have to move on or retire.
"The good sign for the club is that for the past few years we have managed to get it done the next year as well and step up with the next man up and it shows that we've got some great juniors coming through."
Cook said top four was "definitely" the goal entering the side's season-opener against Reynolds' Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
"Has been for a long time. Obviously coming off a grand-final loss, we understand what it takes to get there. We just need another shot at the title," he said.
Reynolds has stepped straight into the captaincy role for the Broncos, but remains in doubt to play against his beloved former club after coming down with COVID-19 last week.
Souths' new skipper Murray is also under a fitness cloud after missing the pre-season trials with a shoulder injury.
The Rabbitohs are confident he'll play and more than comfortable in the NSW State of Origin lock's new standing as Reynolds' successor.
"Cam leads by his actions. He does all the right things off the field and lives by his actions on the field," Cook said.
"He puts his body on the line, plays the game hard, leaves nothing out there. So that's all we can ask for. So he definitely leads the way."
