NRL 2024: Rabbitohs star Cody Walker reveals he wants to play until he’s 39

He may be racing the clock to be fit for Souths’ Las Vegas season opener, but Cody Walker has revealed he has much bigger long-term plans in rugby league beyond his current deal.

Cody Walker waved goodbye to his South Sydney teammates on Friday, the only player to miss a sightseeing tour of San Diego.

Doing everything possible to overcome a calf injury, Walker stayed back at the team hotel alone, not wanting to hinder his chances of playing against the Sea Eagles in Las Vegas next weekend.

This is the behind-the-scenes view of Walker that fans rarely get to see and which speaks to the Rabbitohs five-eighth’s surprising admission that he hopes to still be playing in the NRL at the age of 39.

It would make him the oldest player in the history of the NRL.

Cody Walker says he wants to play until he is 39. Picture: David Swift

“I just feel as though if I can keep playing the game I love, I’ll keep going,’’ Walker said.

“I haven’t put an end date to it.

“But if I can keep playing professionally at 38, 39, I’d love to.

“I don’t play in the middle of the field, I’m smart enough to know where to put myself.

“We’ll see what happens.’’

Instrumental to a side capable of winning the 2024 premiership, Walker has never loved the game more and his future at Souths will quickly become a major discussion this season.

Off-contract at the Rabbits at the end of 2025, Walker, 34, is free to sign for the 2026 season with a rival club from June 30 next year.

He is the perfect example of how an NRL career can still be forged long after a player has turned 21, with Walker not making his NRL debut until he was 26.

It’s why the current NSW State of Origin five-eighth’s bold claim to go past history’s oldest NRL players including Paul Gallen (38), Cliff Lyons (37), Cameron Smith (37) and Darren Smith (36) isn’t without possibility.

Walker is the incumbent Blues five-eighth. Picture: Jonathan Ng

What makes Walker’s current calf complaint so “annoying” is that he is one of the most durable players in the entire league.

He has played 20-games or more in every season since his debut in 2016.

“It’s probably been a strength of mine through my career. Touch wood, this (calf injury) is the end of it,’’ Walker said.

“It’s not ideal, I don’t like being injured. I hate it.

“But it’s the nature of the business.’’

Walker’s immediate focus is of course his calf, of which he will put to an acid test across this weekend.

He spoke with genuine confidence that he would be okay to suit-up at Allegiant Stadium on March 3, but every footballer knows calf injuries can be temperamental.

Walker is trying to overcome an ‘annoying’ calf issue. Picture: NRL Photos

“I feel pretty good. It’s tracking along really well and it pulled up well after the run yesterday,’’ Walker said.

“I have a few little boxes to tick over the weekend, hopefully I can be into some team stuff early next week.

“We’ll up the load on Sunday afternoon and hopefully into some team stuff on Tuesday.

“But it’s all tracking along nicely.

“I’d like to have a fair idea on Sunday afternoon after I pull up from that run.

“It’s a pretty tough injury, they’re pretty annoying.

“But I’m confident.’’

Originally published as NRL 2024: Rabbitohs star Cody Walker reveals he wants to play until he’s 39