“I’AM LEAVING” NRL Damien Cook has announced that he is leaving the Brisbane Broncos due to…..

Souths coach Jason Demetriou is set for another selection bombshell with Damien Cook to be benched for their clash with the Roosters in Friday night.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Cook is set to switch to the pine in favour of Siliva Havili starting at dummyhalf.

It’s another huge call from Demetriou who already axed halfback Lachlan Ilias after the Bunnies lost their opening two games of the season.

Havili impressed off the bench in the Rabbitohs loss to the Broncos in Round 2.

It’s set to be a major blow for Cook who is the incumbent Blues hooker.

Broncos superstar Payne Haas, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the grand final rematch against the Panthers on Thursday night after losing the race to recover from a knee injury.

It’s a significant blow for a Broncos side who were already going to be without halfback Adam Reynolds (knee).

Payne won’t be playing tomorrow night,” Walters told reporters at Broncos training.

“He still has some problems with his knee so we the doctors will have a look at it this afternoon and give us a better diagnosis about where he’s at.”

Broncos coach Kevin Walters signalled over the weekend that Haas was in some doubt after he didn’t train on Sunday.

Haas was given every chance to recover and prove his fitness, but as Walters revealed on Wednesday, the prop’s knee pain was too much to overcome even though an MRI showed no issue.