Cody Walker ’surprised’ at being taken off in Origin I
Cody Walker didn’t expect to get pulled from the field midway through the second half against Queensland - but now the Rabbitohs five-eighth faces a battle to retain his spot for game two.
Cody Walker says he is prepared to fight to retain his Blues jersey after a mixed debut where he was replaced midway through the second half.
There have already been calls to axe the 29-year-old with Walker now facing an uphill battle to retain his spot for game two in Perth.
First-choice five-eighth Luke Keary won’t be available but the Blues could turn to in-form Newcastle half Mitchell Pearce or start Jack Wighton, who replaced Walker from the interchange bench on Wednesday night.
Coach Brad Fittler may also consider recalling Penrith’s James Maloney, who was dumped despite leading the Blues to a breakthrough series victory last year. Walker’s South Sydney teammate Adam Reynolds won’t play after being ruled out indefinitely with a back fracture.
Walker has been the form player in the NRL but that sensational start for the Rabbitohs did not transfer onto the field on Wednesday night. He was part of a left-edge defensive unit which struggled to contain the Maroons. It led to coach Brad Fittler taking the unusual step of replacing Walker with 24 minutes left in the game.
His hopes of retaining his jersey were dealt a blow after he was ruled out for South Sydney against Newcastle on Friday night.
The decision to rest Walker will leave him just 80 minutes to impress before the Blues side is picked where Walker will line-up against Cleary and Maloney.
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“I’ve got to play my best footy for the Rabbitohs and put myself in the frame for game two,” Walker said. “ I’m going to do whatever I can at clubland to get myself back into the frame for game two.
“I’ll have to have a look at the game and identify areas where we need to improve. It’s hard to win at Suncorp. The beauty is we have two more games to go.
“My focus now turns to the Rabbitohs. I’m going to be doing everything I can to play my best footy for the Rabbitohs and hopefully be there in game two.”
Walker said he was a “little bit surprised” when he was called from the field as the Maroons drew level. Wighton took Walker’s place at five-eighth before Walker returned to the field in the final nine minutes as the Blues chased points.
“Freddy (Fittler) wanted fresh legs,” Walker said. “He got Jack out there. I’m happy to do whatever for this team. If that means coming off, whenever the coaches need me to come off I’m happy to do that and then try and get back on.
“Whatever it takes to win a footy I’m happy to do. It was another level from the NRL. We got ourselves in a position to win the game. We just couldn’t do it.
“I was a little bit surprised but as I said I’m happy to do whatever the coaches want. If they want me to come off at halftime and stay off for the rest of the half I’m happy to do that. I don’t know what else to say.
“There is no secret that I’d love to play the 80 minutes but whatever the coaching staff need from me I’m happy to put my hand up to do.
“If it means going on for five minutes to play an Origin game I’m more than happy to do that.
“I’m not going to sit here and sulk. I’m old enough now to get on with my job with whatever the coaches want and need I’m happy to do.”
Walker described his combination with Cleary as a “work in progress” but it was his edge defence alongside Latrell Mitchell which proved problematic. He missed three tackles as the Maroons found plenty of space on their right side.
“I thought they were targeting the right edge a bit more but coming back with the long shape they caught myself and ‘Trell out there,” Walker said. “We need to be nailing those plays.
“I thought I did some good things. I feel like there were a couple of opportunities in defence where we let them off the hook with quick play the balls and missing our kick chase.
“Missing (Cameron) Munster when he went through - they are massive plays in the game.”
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