Cody Walker tears Game 3 apart, raising more questions over Brad Fittler

One NSW Blues star tore the first half apart on Wednesday night, raising even more questions about Brad Fittler’s job as coach.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 12: Cody Walker of the Blues runs the ball during game three of the State of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on July 12, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The NSW Blues were a completely different beast during the opening half of the third State of Origin contest on Wednesday night.

With the series already lost, the Blues made wholesale changes to the line-up with one man proving to be the difference maker.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

South Sydney Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker earned a recall to the Origin arena and showed in the opening half why he he should have been in the squad from day one.

Walker led charge after charge for the Blues, picking the Maroons defensive line apart and guiding the Blues to a 18-10 lead at the break.

In his first Origin outing since 2020, Walker took the contest like a duck to water and had fans questioning Brad Fittler for not injecting him from the outset of the series.

Brought into the squad in place of Penrith Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai, fans heaped praise on Walker and called for him to be permanently locked into the role for the foreseeable future.

21 mins in and the Cody Walker effect is immense.

— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) July 12, 2023

Two words … CODY WALKER !! #Origin

— Jake Duke (@JakeDuke1) July 12, 2023

Cody Walker has done more in 25 minutes then Luai did in 2 games tho. #Origin

— Brad (@bradfogarty101) July 12, 2023

Blues fans took aim at Fittler’s Origin selections after the Maroons pulled off another miracle win in the opening game of the series.

Questions were asked of the heavy-sided Panthers selections that littered the team, with seven players from the back-to-back NRL premiers lining up in Game 1.

The Panthers contingent were lacklustre during the opening contest and it led fans to call for change with Walker’s name at the forefront of those conversations.

Fans were quick to capitalise on his outstanding opening half and deliver not-so-subtle shots at Fittler.

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “Who would have thought a Murray-Walker partnership would work in #Origin.”

So basically the five eighth that people were calling for all series is dominating. It is a dead rubber but New South Wales attack looks so much better with Cody.

— Brent Ford (@BrentFord26) July 12, 2023

Where had Walker been?

Cody wow!!!

Freddy.. what were you doing picking Luai?

Bradman Best in for his first #Origin try

Blues are 🔥 - this is hurting my Maroon heart 😢

— Zane Bojack (@zanofc) July 12, 2023

Amazing what happens when you pick a competent 5/8. #Origin

— Scott Pryde (@sk_pryde) July 12, 2023

Bradman Best scored on debut as the Blues proved too strong for the Maroons in the opening half.

The Blues scored again when they went wide with Cody Walker putting Best through a hole 15m out as he barged his away across the line.

Maroons assistant coach Cameron Smith said: “They’re absolutely tearing the Maroons to shreds out there.

“Cody Walker on that left-hand edge is tearing apart the right edge of Queensland. There’s no communication at the moment between Valentine Holmes and Daly Cherry-Evans. They normally work so well together.

“Valentine Holmes is stuck in two minds. He’s come in a few times to protect Daly Cherry-Evans when Martin is running that lead time. No time he was stuck in no man’s land and Best goes straight through for his first try in Origin.”