South Sydney star Cody Walker slammed by Roosters over spiteful finish to round one blockbuster

Cody Walker has been labelled “disrespectful” after launching a tirade on former teammate Angus Crichton which earned the ire of Sydney Roosters players Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Cody Walker of the Rabbitohs and Cooper Cronk of the Roosters face off during the round one NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 15, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Cody Walker has been labelled “disrespectful” after launching a tirade on former teammate Angus Crichton which earned the ire of Sydney Roosters players Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told Roosters players objected to Crichton being labelled a traitor by Walker who delivered the spray during the Rabbitohs 26-16 win against the Roosters at the SCG on Friday night. Crichton — who was a high profile off-season defection from the Rabbitohs to the Roosters — was targeted by Walker after Alex Johnston’s try in the 67th minute. Cronk leapt to the defence of his new teammate — telling Walker to move on — but was also given a serve by Walker before the two became tangled.

Cody Walker (L) and Cooper Cronk face off. Picture: AAP

There were also suggestions Walker and Crichton exchanged words post-match when the teams were shaking hands. Keary rushed to help out halves partner Cronk when he saw his No. 7 being shoved by Walker.

Keary left little doubt what he thought of his opposite five-eighth. The feud lit the fuse for another a fiery rematch between the two already bitter rivals when they play each other again in the final round of the regular season.

“It was that incident at the end when one bloke wants to carry on and be a bit disrespectful,” Keary said. “Everyone who plays the game knows that’s how he plays it. It’s fine if he wants to go around doing that, it will come back to him.

In your face... Walker and Cronk come together. Picture: Brett Costello

“Everything that happens on the field stays on the field. It is what it is. Some people play the game like that.”

A Crichton tackle on Walker in the set of Johnston’s try is understood to have sparked the drama, and where the pair originally exchanged words.

Crichton played just 19 minutes from the interchange in his Roosters debut having missed a large chunk of the pre-season after post-season shoulder surgery.

Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner — who was off the field at the time — played down the fiery exchange.

The fight escalates as Walker scuffles with Roosters star Luke Keary. Picture: AAP

“I didn’t hear what was being said,” Cordner said. “There was a bit of an altercation there but they sorted it out on the field.

“It’s a game of footy. It’s always going to be heated times on the field. I didn’t notice too much with the Cody Walker incident. I don’t know what was being said.”

Keary had problems of his own after injuring his shoulder while attempting to tackle Sam Burgess. The initial hit stunned Keary.

Souths star Cody Walker is tackled by Rabbitoh-turned-Rooster Angus Crichton. Picture: Brett Costello

“It came good pretty quickly,” Keary said. “I must’ve got him on the knee. I haven’t had too many of them. I didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t feel my arm.”

Meanwhile, Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell — who was involved in his own exchanges throughout the match — will escape suspension despite being charged with a grade one careless tackle for a high shot on Burgess. Mitchell will be fined $1650 with an early guilty plea.

Originally published as South Sydney star Cody Walker slammed by Roosters over spiteful finish to round one blockbuster