NRL Finals 2020: Wayne Bennett's $20,000 Cody Walker ‘cover-up’ punt pays off
Wayne Bennett copped huge criticism in January when he defied the political correctness police — and NRL Integrity Unit — to “cover up” a scandal involving Cody Walker. What a great call it was.
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Wayne Bennettis not a betting man. But the $20,000 punt Bennett took on Cody Walker in January continues to pay massive dividends.
We look at the way Walker is playing right now and all seems to be forgotten about the drunken street-fight scandal that engulfed South Sydney midway through the year.
But I can’t help but wonder how much of Walker’s soaring confidence would go back to the fact that Bennett had his back when Walker came looking for help?
There is no disputing Bennett’s actions went against the politically correct code of conduct that is required from all NRL coaches and clubs.
Some at the time even suggested it was just another example of how Bennett had lost touch with the realities of the modern game.
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But it could also be argued that the line Bennett was prepared to walk for his player was pivotal in the further building of trust within his players.
Because the trust Walker seems to have in his own ability is now shaping up to be South Sydney’s biggest weapon heading into the most important time of the season.
You can clearly see the camaraderie that is driving the energy in this Rabbitohs outfit — on and off the field.
They have scored 106 points in their past two games, and will go into Saturday’s clash against Parramatta as the raging favourites.
And the belief Walker has in his own ability is clearly rubbing off on every player in the team.
Remember, this is a side that started the year with a forward pack labelled second-rate at best.
And then when Souths lost their star fullback Latrell Mitchell, just as he was starting to find his feet in his new position (on top of already losing starting centres James Roberts and Braidon Burns for the season), it looked like their year was as good as finished.
But Walker’s inspiration has now ignited the most unlikely finals charge.
Which is why the “scandal” that engulfed Walker and Bennett mid-season remains so significant.
Bennett told no one. Not even Souths chief executive Blake Solly or then head of football Shane Richardson.
If Bennett was like so many in the game (particularly those who used to run it), and society in general for that matter, who are more worried about public perception and bowing to overblown political correctness, he might have felt pressured into taking the more predictable course of rushing the matter to the attention of the NRL’s integrity unit via the Rabbitohs hierarchy.
The people there would have felt compelled (see preceding paragraph) to let it out and justify their existence despite it being very much a matter of mates having too much to drink, making stupid decisions and shaking hands in the light of the next day.
At the time, Bennett maintained it was not a cover-up but a judgment call.
He said he took into account that no one had been injured and no complaints had been made, either to the club or the police.
As it turned out, no police charges resulted from the incident.
It didn’t become an issue until some months later after all hell broke loose on social media when video of the fight emerged. Of course, the NRL integrity unit had to act and hit Walker with a two-week suspension.
Don’t get me wrong, the integrity unit has its place, but did it need to become the Grim Reaper that is victim to its own previous overreactions?
Walker should have been given a warning that any future incident would be looked upon grimly and a reminder of his responsibilities in public. That was what the incident was worth.
And if Bennett had gone straight to the NRL about it, what sort of message would that have sent to his players?
You just have to look at the football the Bunnies are playing right now — it is a style built on trust.
And Walker’s involvement is crucial. Corey Allan is doing a wonderful job filling the hole left by Mitchell at fullback, but without Walker the transition would not have been nearly as successful.
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And it is like Walker is playing two roles as five-eighth and as a second fullback, not unlike how Darren Lockyer used to play under Bennett at Brisbane.
This is the sort of footy you’d imagine Walker would have loved playing as a kid.
And it has allowed Walker to be his natural self, while making him the most dangerous player in the game.
Walker’s agent Matt Rose doesn’t believe Bennett’s handling of the Casino incident is necessarily the reason why Walker gets on so well with his coach.
But he concedes there is something very special about their relationship.
“I think from word go Cody really connected with Wayne,” Rose said. “To be honest, he has a special relationship with Wayne, there is no doubt about that. But I think Wayne has that with all his players. I don’t think it is anything to do with the start of the year. I honestly think the style of play Souths are playing at the moment really suits Cody and it suits Souths.
“What makes Wayne so special is how he can connect with a player. And Wayne has brought the best out in Cody. I love the fact Wayne is there and he really has been able to look after Trell and Cody.
“He is a very special person. I haven’t met very many people like him, that’s for sure.”
It all goes back to Bennett’s style of man management. And his refusal to bow to convention, despite the flak it attracts.
It doesn’t always win him the popularity polls but across generations it is a system that works, with players from any era.
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Originally published as NRL Finals 2020: Wayne Bennett's $20,000 Cody Walker ‘cover-up’ punt pays off