NRL 2021: Cody Walker prizes a premiership well ahead of Dally M honours

Cody Walker has revealed his driving force to win this year’s premiership – and it has nothing to do with his looming contract negotiations.

NRL 2021 RD22 South Sydney Rabbitohs v Gold Coast Titans – Cody Walker Picture NRL Images

Cody Walker plans to sign a new deal to finish his career at Souths and revealed his driving force to lead the Rabbitohs to this year’s premiership – the suspension of his good mate Latrell Mitchell.

Walker is so determined to take the Rabbitohs to the holy grail the classy playmaker says he would happily concede the Dally M Medal to Manly rival Tom Trbojevic in favour of a maiden premiership ring.

Walker and Trbojevic will square off in Friday night’s Manly-Souths preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium before waging another off-field battle for the Dally M Medal this Monday night.

While Nathan Cleary leads the count with 24 points, Trbojevic is just one point behind the Panthers whiz and the raging favourite to claim the gong ahead of Walker, who is third on 17 points.

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Cody Walker looks set to finish his NRL career with South Sydney, with contract extension talks to kick off after the 2021 season. Picture: NRL Photos.

The South Sydney maestro has produced a sizzling late-season form burst to put himself in Dally M contention, but says he would rather trump Trbojevic in the sudden-death Suncorp showdown to help the Rabbitohs to the first title since 2014.

“I want that premiership ring more than anything,” Walker said.

“The Dally M is a highly prestigious award and it would be a massive honour to win, but to be honest, if Trbojevic won it … for me individual accolades are a reflection of the team performance.

“I would 100 per cent rather win the premiership with my teammates than the Dally M.”

Walker’s game management and kicking will be critical tools in Souths’ plan to nullify Trbojevic.

The Manly custodian had an off-night in their 40-12 rout against Melbourne in the opening week of the finals, but Walker watched Trbojevic closely as he hit back with a sensational display in the Sea Eagles’ demolition of the Roosters last week.

Walker and Tom Trbojevic are favourites to win the Dally M in 2021, but Walker says he’d sacrifice the prestigious award to win a premiership. Picture: Getty Images.

“Melbourne showed that ‘Turbo’ can be stopped in some way,” Walker said.

“They didn’t give him too much opportunity with field position.

“It’s important we finish our sets on a positive note.

“It’s almost impossible to stop him but you can limit his space and time.

“The danger is if you focus too much on Turbo, that’s when Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic will come into their own.

“We can’t just focus on (Tom) Trbojevic, but if we put the ball deep inside their half and win the possession rate, we can go a long way towards winning.”

Walker admits the season-ending suspension of Mitchell – and the savage criticism the Rabbitohs fullback copped for the brutal tackle that left Roosters rival Joseph Manu with a fractured cheekbone – had galvanised Souths players.

The suspension of Latrell Mitchell has motivated Walker to lead Souths to a premiership. Picture: NRL Photos.

“We can win it without Latrell,” Walker said.

“You can’t replace a guy like Latrell, but I know we can take our game to another level without him and that’s motivating for me.

“What has given us confidence is Latrell missing the back end of last year due to his hamstring injury.

“Everyone wrote us off then and we were able to play some good football to make the prelim final.

“Myself, Damien Cook (hooker), Benji (Marshall) and ‘Reyno’ (halfback Adam Reynolds) meet once a week to go over the way we want to play, so our key playmakers are still there.

“We still have the strike outside backs that can score points.”

Walker is off-contract at the end of next season but insists he won’t be following departing coach Wayne Bennett at the Redfern exits to potentially play for a second Brisbane team in 2023.

The 31-year-old will kick-off extension talks with Souths bosses following the Rabbitohs’ title tilt.

Cody Walker came into the NRL as a 26-year-old in 2016 and wants to be a one-club player. Picture: Getty Images.

“I think I can extend my career for a few more years,” Walker said.

“Because I came into the NRL at 26, I didn’t have the bash-and-barge of first grade since the age of 18. My body is still in good shape.

“I absolutely love the club, I love everything about the place and my kids love the club so I can’t see why I wouldn’t stay.

“I remember when Souths last won the premiership in 2014 and I will never forget the emotion on the players’ faces.

“I didn’t appreciate how rich Souths’ history was before I came here but once I became a part of the club and understood what Souths are about, the reinstatement, and the fighting club that they are, I fell in love with the club instantly.

“You never know what the future can hold, but I can’t see myself playing for another club.

“It would be nice to finish my career here.”

JAI ARROW’S ALCOHOL ADMISSION AFTER ORIGIN SHAME

Maroons star Jai Arrow has binned the booze after his Origin controversy and believes his move to South Sydney from the Titans has been vindicated as the Rabbitohs sit on the cusp of next week’s grand final.

Arrow will make his first appearance in an NRL preliminary final when the Rabbitohs take on Manly at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

It will be the biggest NRL game in Arrow’s six-season career and comes in his first year at the Rabbitohs after leaving the Gold Coast Titans.

Arrow, 26, is on the cusp of playing in the historic Suncorp Stadium premiership decider next Sunday but it was only two months ago that his career was at its lowest point.

Arrow was rubbed out of Game Three of the Origin series and hit with a $35,000 fine after breaching the NRL’s Covid protocols in Camp Maroon on the Gold Coast.

He spent two weeks in isolation questioning himself and his decisions before emerging determined to lead Souths to NRL premiership glory for the first time since 2014.

Arrow said he owed Souths, and in particular coach Wayne Bennett, for helping him through the darkest period in his career.

Jai Arrow was rubbed out of Origin 3 after a Covid breach. Picture: Adam Head

“I had a lot of time to reflect and question myself as a person,” Arrow said.

“People that question my character don’t know me from a bar of soap. I will do anything for anyone. That’s me as a person and I’ll continue to do that.

“I’ve been off the drink and I don’t want to touch it. My mind and body are refreshed.

“If I didn’t have Wayne Bennett it would have been 10 times worse for me. The way he, the club and coaching staff backed me definitely helped and got me through it.

“We had a meeting when I got back in the team environment and I got up in front of everyone and apologised. I wanted to reiterate that I was here to play good footy for the rest of the year.

“It was obviously a tough time but I had to move forward. I’m not someone to dwell on things and mope around.

“I’ve hit my straps and am enjoying my footy. The coaches have been pretty happy with me but I’m not satisfied yet. There is still a long way to go.”

Arrow started slow but has become a key player for Souths. Picture: Getty Images.

Arrow has become a key player for Souths, playing 21 games in his debut season at Redfern and providing impact off the bench in 11 of those appearances.

While he was a guaranteed starter at the Titans, his home town club, Arrow’s role at Souths has become an integral part of the Rabbitohs’ premiership puzzle.

Arrow was criticised by Titans fans after signing a four-year contract with Souths but says it has proven to be the right move.

“I’ve said it openly – I came to Souths to play in big games and now I get that opportunity,” he said.

“It’s good to see the Gold Coast make the finals, but I came here to play on the big stage and I think we can do something special at Souths.

“I feel I left the Titans on good terms. It was a long process after I signed with Souths (in December 2019).

“I definitely have no regrets. I’m loving it and my time at the club. I’ve got to meet a lot of new people and become really good mates with them.

“I’m here now and playing in my first preliminary final but I haven’t achieved what I wanted to achieve.

Jai Arrow spent three years at the Titans before taking up a big money deal at Souths. Picture: Getty Images.

“It’s all going in the right direction at the moment. It’s a special feeling to be here at this time of the year.

“I love playing finals footy. I got a little taste at the Broncos (2016-17) and have got more now.”

Arrow will come off the bench against a Sea Eagles team featuring star forwards Marty Taupau and Jake Trbojevic.

He has gained a reputation for ruffling feathers and said he would be looking to lift the Bunnies with a spot in the grand final on the line.

“I’ve been coming off the bench to stir a few up and bring that fire,” Arrow said.

“We’ve put ourselves in a great position. The win against Penrith (week one of finals) was one of the most special feelings I’ve had in a team.

“The job’s not done. We’ve still got two more games to go hopefully.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Cody Walker prizes a premiership well ahead of Dally M honours