Cody Walker shines for Souths despite lacklustre defeat to the Roosters

THE Rabbitohs might have gone down to the Roosters but Cody Walker put in a performance to give hope to the South Sydney faithful.

CODY Walker waited 27 years to crack the NRL.

Which may explain his desire to make up for lost time.

While South Sydney were pumped by arch rivals the Roosters at ANZ, Walker again showed exactly why NSW Country selectors are now considering him for a representative debut in May.

Truly, every time this fella gets the ball, the odds of a ‘wow’ moment double.

Maybe triple.

Making breaks. Forcing repeats.

Walker was dangerous with every touch.

Forever taking that little white Steeden to the line and — with everybody wondering ‘OK, what the bloody hell is happening?’ -- he either goes short, long or dummies ... and away.

Exactly what Walker is thinking? Who knows?

It’s what makes this new Redfern cult figure so tough to defend against. And so wonderful to watch.

And, no, the livewire Casino product didn’t earn the headline moments.

Not when Roosters recruit Luke Keary was up against the club whose Hollywood owner deemed him overpaid. Or centre Latrell Mitchell, another being talked up among CRL selectors, also scored one try, threw the final pass for another, even gave his signature kangaroo post-try celebration.

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But still, Walker is proving the undeniable star at Redfern.

With four rounds in the bag, his efforts every bit the equal of marquee men like Sam Burgess, Adam Reynolds and Robbie Farah.

Ironically, the indigenous livewire only earned his NRL debut last season following the suspension of the man he squared off against last night, Keary.

And with the later now having shifted next door, well, the Souths No. 6 belongs to Walker.

Which made him at least one of two high points for Souths owner Russell Crowe.

The other, quite obviously, was that $100,000 the club saved themselves thanks to a call which came with just five seconds remaining in the first half.

Only minutes earlier, and with the Bunnies defending their own tryline, lock Sam Burgess appeared to be thwacked in his melon by the shoulder of rival Roosters heavyweight Isaac Liu.

While Burgess was initially slow to rise to his feet — which under the tightened NRL concussion laws requires him to be replaced — the English international insisted to a club trainer he was clear to play on, and was initially given the OK.

And so he stayed out there.

For several minutes.

A decision which could surely have gone before NRL medical boss Paul Bloomfield this morning given, on Monday, Newcastle, Gold Coast and St George Illawarra were all issued six-figure breach notices for allowing the same.

But then, with only seconds left on the clock, Slammin’ Sam was hauled from the field for a concussion check — an important one given that, with the Souths skipper failing subsequent tests and therefore staying sidelined, it probably saved the club 100 large.