Granted,it’s been a long time since NSW’s face-saving win in game three last year,but Cody Walker is on the brink of a rare slice of Origin history.
Cody Walker believes the return of Latrell Mitchell will help the Rabbitohs in round 10.
The Rabbitohs star cut the Queensland defence to shreds in Sydney last July,striking an unlikely combination with Origin debutant Bradman Best,an odd couple the state didn’t know it needed.
But if a week is a long time in rugby league,10 months is an eternity.
Walker’s club,South Sydney,spectacularly collapsed to miss the finals last year. They sacked their coach Jason Demetriou after eight rounds this year. They are bottom of the NRL ladder with just one win. Their best hope of salvation lies with supercoach Wayne Bennett,who has been there and done that with Walker and co.
All of which means the hopes of any Rabbitohs player,now that skipper Cameron Murray is injured,being in Michael Maguire’s first NSW side are forlorn. There is some support for Jack Wighton,however,if he makes himself available.
South Sydney Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker.Getty
“I wasn’t playing footy like I am now,” Walker says when reminded of his man-of-the-match performance in Origin III last year.
“My focus and all my energy is on what I can do for Souths and I need to get my own form back before that even comes into mind. We understand where we sit,we understand we’re not where we want to be and we understand we’re not playing the footy we want. That stuff[Origin] is not on my mind at the moment.
“If you ask anyone,they all want to be in that position,but you have to be realistic where you stand and where you are,and I don’t believe I’m playing the type of footy that’s required[for Origin].”
If Nathan Cleary’s hamstrings are intact,he will be NSW’s No.7. Walker appears to be stuck behind a queue featuring Mitchell Moses,Jarome Luai and Matt Burton for the five-eighth role in the series opener at Accor Stadium next month.
Walker will have chances to press his cause. He will line up against the Dragons in his 200th NRL match on Saturday,then South Sydney take on the Cowboys and Eels before the first NSW team is chosen.
Asked about his form,Walker said:“There’s been moments where I’ve been[good],but I feel like I’m getting back to my best,then I do something wrong,I make an error. I’m just not consistent enough. I’m not going to get into why or how. It just creates excuses.
“I’ve just got to keep working extremely hard on my game.”
Walker has kept his counsel since Demetriou’s axing,and would not be drawn on a potential Bennett reunion,other than to say “we all know how a lot of us feel about Wayne and the club”.
“I think everyone in the squad felt some sort of responsibility for JD losing his job,” Walker said. “At the end of the day,we weren’t getting results and we weren’t winning games of football and performing on the field.
“I feel for JD and his family going through what went on last week.”
Since Demetriou’s exit,the Rabbitohs have confirmed the signing of English halfback Lewis Dodd. Walker admitted he was not asked by the club’s hierarchy about the prospect of playing alongside the 22-year-old St Helens star before it was made official.
On his milestone match,which will feature the return from suspension of Latrell Mitchell,Walker said:“I think the thing that is great about milestones and achievements is actually me giving an opportunity to say thank you to all of my immediate family that’s been there.”
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