Cody Walker’s journey from rugby league fringe to NSW Origin debut
In 2010, Cody Walker gave up on his NRL dream to play bush footy for $400 a game with the Casino Cougars. Next week, he will make a State of Origin debut for NSW that could have never happened.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cody Walker was leaning back on a plastic chair on the second floor of the North Bondi Surf Club on Monday.
In front of the oldest player to debut at five-eighth in State of Origin history, almost 30 journalists ducked and wove with tape recorders, hoping to jag the best story in town.
On a laptop in the middle of the room, NSW assistant coaches Danny Buderus and Andrew Johns watched vision of an old Souths game — Blues camp not yet one day old, but the pair already working to steal an edge over Queensland.
Over the next few days the Blues could decide whether to phone-in some inspiration: an Olympic hero, an Australian icon or the bravest of champions with a true-grit story of a win against all odds, perhaps.
They needn’t bother. Their inspiration is sitting beside them in blue.
Not tough enough for State of Origin? Try figuring out how much you can eat while you wait for your fortnightly Centrelink payment.
Doesn’t have the courage to run teeth first into the Maroons defensive line?
Try looking at yourself in the mirror and making the call to change your life or run the risk of ending up in prison.
Doesn’t understand overcoming setbacks?
Try being let go by the Gold Coast, Penrith and Melbourne and being so convinced that your NRL dream is over, the seemingly best — and only — option is to give up and play bush footy for $400 a game with the Casino Cougars.
“It’s just amazing,’’ Walker says of his journey to the Origin arena at the age of 29.
“At the end of 2010, I remember having a chat (to his brother) and thinking ‘I’m just going to go and play in Casino’.
“I didn’t know where I was, to be honest. I didn’t know where I was going to go.
“I was getting game time (in the Penrith under-20s), but I feel like the opportunity didn’t come.”
Why?
“Because I didn’t like training and I didn’t like applying myself to everything that it takes to be an NRL footballer,’’ Walker said.
“That’s the honest truth. I was partying too much.
“I was 20 and that’s an amazing moment in my life, right there, because it could’ve gone either way.
“It could’ve gone down a bad path of alcoholism and all that sort of stuff.’’
Prison?
“I could’ve gone down that path,’’ he said.
“I’ve got family members that are in jail and that have been in and out of jail.’’
Wearing the only Blues jersey, Walker smiles as he explains what changed the entire course of his life.
“It was finding out my partner (Nellie) was pregnant with our son (Kian),’’ Walker said.
“In February 2011 we found out she was pregnant with our first and if you look at back to then … I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have a licence, I had no car, I was on Centrelink, getting around $400 a fortnight.
“I had to (change). There are no other words to describe it, but I had to change my life there and then.
“Otherwise, who knows what would’ve happened?
“At the time, I was playing for Windsor in the NSW Cup and living with my brother in Parramatta in a spare bedroom.
“Then I got a call to go to the Easts Tigers (in Brisbane) and that’s where it all changed.
“I just had to build my reputation back up. Because I didn’t have the best reputation as far as training goes.
“I was working at a Suzuki spare-parts factory in Brisbane. I would have to catch two buses to get to Suzuki.
“My son was six months old before I got my licence and a car.
“Some weeks I wouldn’t turn up to work after a Sunday game because I was just so sore and I would have to catch two buses to get to Suzuki.’’
A father’s decision to change his life — and that of his family — began to pay off with Walker selected in the 2013 Queensland Residents side.
Born in Nowra, Walker says the maroon colour of the jersey meant little to him — promising every Blues fan, that his allegiance should never be questioned — yet proud of what the selection meant for his journey.
“It was certainly a proud moment because I didn’t really make representative state sides (as a junior),’’ Walker said.
“So it was a fairly big moment in my career to be selected in that side.
“In those sides it was based on where you were playing at the time, as opposed to being born in Queensland.
“My partner doesn’t let me live it down that I wore a Maroon jersey.’’
And in a way, Blues fans can thank Walker’s selection in the Queensland Residents side as major reason why he’s here today.
The selection and his blistering form with the Tigers, led to a 12-month contract with the Storm, which was ultimately stymied as Walker struggled with hamstring injuries.
South Sydney had begun circling six months earlier, but it wasn’t until mid-2014 that coach Michael Maguire had finally convinced Walker he should be in Redfern, which he now calls home.
It was the decision that altered Walker’s life — but more importantly in his eyes, that of his family.
“Am I proud? Of course,’’ Walker said.
“I told my partner first after Freddy (Fittler) had called and then I sat down with my sons (Kian, 7 and Kade, 5) and showed a picture of me in a Blues jersey, which was doing the rounds on the internet.
“It’s moments like that, I’ve waited my whole life for.’’
Originally published as Cody Walker’s journey from rugby league fringe to NSW Origin debut
Push for Ivan Cleary to coach NSW Blues is over
The NSW Blues’ coaching options are dwindling fast with Penrith premiership coach Ivan Cleary the latest big-name candidate to withdraw from the race. See the contenders to replace Michael Maguire.
Storm coach puts end date on career
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has opened up on his future and putting a potential finishing date on his legendary career.