Penrith eye red-hot Rabbitohs and the NRL’s form player Cody Walker
Penrith don’t care who they play in the preliminary final, but they are excited about the potential of playing the red-hot Rabbitohs.
Panthers
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Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards has anointed South Sydney star Cody Walker the NRL‘s form player and says a preliminary final match-up against the red-hot Rabbitohs would be “good”.
The Panthers could face an in-form Souths side in a grand final qualifier in a fortnight if the men from Redfern beat Parramatta in Saturday’s semi-final.
The prospect of Penrith coming up against the rampaging Rabbitohs certainly excites Edwards.
“They (Souths) would be a good match-up if we did happen to play them in the finals,” Edwards said.
“They are playing a good brand of footy and it is good to watch. They are a very dangerous side. They have some quality (players), and Cody Walker is playing out of his skin.
“Damien Cook is also there, and their big boys go forward, so it will be very interesting to see how Parra handle them.”
Edwards reserved praise for Walker, who has emerged as the game’s leading player with his standout form from five-eighth.
“Yeah, I’d say so (he is the best), everything he touches sort of turns to gold at the moment,” he said.
“He is playing well and playing on the back of the momentum that the team is playing with.
“They (Souths) have hit their straps at the right end of the year, and they are putting scores on anyone they play.”
As confidently as Souths are playing, Edwards has belief that Penrith can beat anyone in the competition.
He pointed out the improvement of halfback Nathan Cleary as a key for the Panthers moving forward.
“He (Nathan) has gone to another level this year through his leadership and his management of the team,” he said.
“Plus, his own form, and he is just playing with a lot of confidence.”
Cleary’s halves partner Jarome Luai has been equally potent for Penrith this season.
Edwards has been a huge fan of Luai’s form this season, especially as a vocal presence following James Maloney’s departure.
“Jarome has been awesome,” he said.
“He has been one of our most consistent all year and especially in the last couple of months.
“I can’t really rap him enough. What you see on the TV and all those images is what you get at training every day.
“Jarome and Nathan combine really well, and he is playing some really exciting football.”
Originally published as Penrith eye red-hot Rabbitohs and the NRL’s form player Cody Walker