South Sydney’s Cody Walker on his Blues Origin selection chances

Coy Walker has made the most line breaks, the most tackle busts, and is second only to Luke Keary for try assists. So what else does the Rabbitohs five-eighth have to do to earn an Origin call-up?

• Pangai brushes Blues for Tonga
• Latrell: ‘There were days I couldn’t get out of bed’

To most rugby league fans and pundits, the question ‘What more can Cody Walker do to earn an Origin call-up?’ is rhetorical.

But not to the South Sydney five-eighth.

“I need to keep improving my game,” Walker told The Daily Telegraph.

“I need to keep doing my job for the Rabbitohs. That’s what puts you in the frame to be considered for those kind of sides.”

Walker isn’t waiting for his name to be called. Image: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

New South Wales coach Brad Fittler is facing a selection dilemma in the halves with incumbents James Maloney and Nathan Cleary out of form for the bottom-placed Penrith Panthers.

The likes of Sydney Roosters’ Luke Keary, Canberra’s Jack Wighton and Walker’s Rabbitohs halves partner Adam Reynolds are pushing for selection in the No. 6 and No. 7 for the Blues.

While all the contenders, Walker included, will have a final 80 minutes this weekend to press their respective claims, the Bunnies playmaker has been a shining light over the opening 10 rounds of the season.

According to Fox Sports Lab, Walker is leading the competition across key attacking statistics for five-eighths.

The five-eighth has been at the centre of Souths’ good work this season. Image: AAP Image/Rohan Thomson

The 29-year old has made the most line breaks (8), the most tackle busts (38), created the most line break assists (8) and is second to Keary (13) for try assists (11). He is the NRL’s leading tryscorer, crossing for 11 tries in 10 games.

Walker wasn’t prepared to overstate his chances of representative selection yesterday but his teammates at Redfern did not hesitate to do the talking for him.

Winger Campbell Graham had no doubt that Walker’s red hot form left Blues selectors with no other option than to read his name out on Monday morning.

“I don’t know what more he had to do, honestly. I would be very surprised if he doesn’t get a spot, at the very least on the bench.”

On this form, Origin is surely inevitable. Image: Brett Costello

Graham believes Walker has not only earned his shot but is tailor made to succeed in the Origin arena.

“He’s an Origin player, he has that vibe about him. He can create something out of nothing, I think that’s what you need in Origin. It’s not about structured footy, it’s about off the cuff and having that natural footballer instincts and he’s got that more so than anyone in the NRL,” Graham said.

Rabbitohs and Queensland centre Dane Gagai was willing to echo Graham’s sentiments even though it could be to the determent of the Maroons.

“It’s out of his hands as to who is in the side or not. So it’s up to us to focus on what we are doing here at club level and he is obviously doing a pretty good job of that.

“He’s been in great form for us and that’s what we have come to expect of him now and he keeps turning up each week. He’s setting up tries and roaming the field, playing instinctual footy,” he said.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett named an unchanged line-up for Saturday’s game against the Wests Tigers.

However, Tigers coach Michael Maguire has shifted Robert Jennings out on to the wing at the expense of Mahe Fonua, who has been left out of the side. Paul Momirovski was named as Jennings’ replacement at centre.