‘What does he provide as a bench player?’: Gus not sold on Blues’ utility gamble

Legendary Blues coach Phil Gould has doubts about the selection of specialist five-eighth Cody Walker as a utility and the role he can play in Origin I.

Cody Walker will come off the bench for the Blues.

Legendary Blues coach Phil Gould has doubts about the selection of specialist five-eighth Cody Walker as a utility and the role he can play in Origin I.

Walker was reportedly a late selection on the bench after Storm grand final hero Ryan Papenhuyzen was ruled out until Game II with a calf injury.

Walker is tipped to cover hooker, lock and the halves, but Gould can’t see the Rabbitohs No.6 being as effective as previous NSW utilities unless there is an injury in the halves.

Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now >

STATE OF ORIGIN NEWS

ORIGIN SCOUT: Fuming Tigers want answers over Freddy’s Blues rookie comments

ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of this year’s series

“Where do you get Cody Walker into the game and how do you get Cody Walker into the game?” Gould asked Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

“What does he provide as a bench player? I don’t think he’s a bloke you can bring on at lock forward and I don’t think he plays any other position.

“They’ve trained him a little bit at fullback and I think he would be the fullback option if something happens to James Tedesco during the course of play.

“Other than that, he’s sitting on the bench and you’re thinking, ‘How does he get in the game?’

MORE NRL NEWS

DO OR DIE: Eight Blues and Maroons stars with the most to lose this Origin series

ARRESTED: Manly star charged with assault after ‘entering car’ of unknown woman

WHAT UNREST? Tigers put line through fractured dressing room with new Madge deal

WHY YOUR STATE CAN WIN: State of Origin — and why it could all end in disaster

“Before it’s been Tyrone Peachey in that No.14 jersey and he could come and do something. But I’m wondering how Cody gets into the contest and in a position where he can have an impact.”

Walker would obviously be an ideal replacement for Keary if his unfortunate run with concussion injuries were to cruelly continue in his Origin debut.

However if everyone is fit Gould can’t see the halves being replaced and believes playing Walker out of position will hurt the Blues’ defensive structure.

“Can you see New South Wales at any stage during the game replacing Nathan Cleary or Luke Keary? I can’t see that happening,” Gould said.

“So, what’s he there for if one of the halves don’t go down?

Cody Walker at Blues training.

“I guess you have to have coverage for Luke Keary because he only needs one bonk on the scone and generally he’s off for a HIA. He’s virtually covering that one position, I think.

“Other than that, where do you get him into the game and where do you play him?

“If you need a try with 10 or 15 minutes to play and you’re in trouble, I guess you can run the risk of throwing him at lock-forward but you’re going to weaken your defence around the middle.”

However Walker lifted the lid on his potential role should the Blues starting halves get through the game unscathed.

“(Fittler) just spoke to me the other day in our last training session just about doing a little bit of one, doing a little bit of nine, doing a little bit of 13,” Walker said.

“Just having a crack and doing what I can.

“I asked him if that’s what we were going to do next week (in game one) and he said, oh yeah, that’s what we’re thinking. So, that’s sweet with me.”

The State of Origin opener kicks off at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday at 8.00pm AEDT with the Blues looking to make it three series victories on the trot in 2020.

Originally published as ‘What does he provide as a bench player?’: Gus not sold on Blues’ utility gamble