Cody Walker’s 2020 form matches up with 2009 Jarryd Hayne and 2012 Ben Barba
Cody Walker’s recent form has him walking in rarefied air. If you don’t believe he is matching the likes of Jarryd Hayne in 2009 and Ben Barba in 2012 – think again. These stats don’t lie.
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When we talk about the greatest runs of form in NRL history we talk about Jarryd Hayne in 2009 and Ben Barba in 2012 and it might not be long before we add Cody Walker in 2020 to that list.
No player in the competition is more dangerous right now than Walker, who was at it again in South Sydney’s 46-20 belting of Newcastle in the first week of the finals as he scored a try and set up two more.
With the Rabbitohs winning 10 of their past 12 to storm into premiership contention, Walker is putting together a season that’s the equal of Hayne’s legendary run in 2009 or Ben Barba’s 2012 masterclass.
“I feel like he’s been playing good footy all year, he’s just come into the spotlight in the last couple of weeks but every week I feel like he’s playing like that,” Rabbitohs fullback Corey Allan said.
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“It’s nothing new to me. It’s the same with all the boys — we’re just playing our role so Cody can play his.”
With the shortening of the season Walker won’t play as many matches as Hayne or Barba, even if the Rabbitohs make the grand final.
But in 19 matches he’s landed as many try assists (23) as Barba did in 27 matches while Hayne set up 19 tries in 26 games.
Walker also has Barba matched in terms of line break assists (22 each), again beating Hayne’s tally (11).
He’s further back when it comes to tries — Barba topped the league in 2012 with 22 and Hayne crossed for 14 while Walker has run in 10 — and the two fullbacks are well ahead when it comes to tackle busts and line breaks.
But Walker has been the more efficient player creatively and touches the ball more frequently than either Barba or Hayne — his 24 errors is leagues ahead of Barba (39) and Hayne (33).
Walker might not be able to match Barba and Hayne in winning the Dally M — Penrith’s Nathan Cleary is still the favourite to take home that honour — but there is no doubt he would trade that for a grand final victory.
Barba’s Bulldogs won the minor premiership in 2012 before they were ground down 14-4 by Melbourne in the decider while Hayne took the Eels all the way from eighth to the brink of the title but the Storm were again the final hurdle and beat the blue and golds 23-16.
Walker is a constant danger, with the ball and without it, and it helps open things up for his fellow playmakers — it’s no coincidence that his ascension in recent weeks has helped open things up for star hooker Damien Cook, who had his best game of the year against the Knights.
Allan is another beneficiary. He’s improved by the week since replacing the injured Latrell Mitchell in Round 17 with his ball-playing and running game coming along exponentially.
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It’s a far cry from last season, when Allan himself admits the nerves got to him as the year went on, especially in the finals.
“When I got my first crack last year it was a bit much for me, I was getting way too nervous before games,” Allan said.
“But I’ve experienced that now, and I’m getting more and more confident in myself every week. That’s a big part of it, having confidence in myself.
“In my own mind, I was just getting more and more thoughts in my head of not how to make mistakes. That was messing me a bit. I can’t get more nervous than last year.”