Souths fined for Bennett’s silence

Cody Walker has copped a two-week ban while the strength of Wayne Bennett’s relationship with Souths hierarchy is set to be put to the test.

From left, Cody Walker, Adam Reynolds, Wayne Bennett and Damien Cook at Rabbitohs training this week. Picture: Adam Yip

The strength of Wayne Bennett’s relationship with Souths hierarchy and in turn the club’s relationship with the NRL is set to be put to the test after Cody Walker was suspended for two weeks and the club was fined over a street fight involving their five-eighth late last year.

Bennett and Walker were both interviewed over the incident and although the seven-time premiership winner elected not to inform anyone at the club, the Rabbitohs were fined $20,000 for failing to report the incident to the NRL.

The NRL insists the fine is no different to that handed to clubs when coaches turn on referees after matches. Yet there is a view in some quarters that the NRL took the easy option by taking aim at the club rather than Bennett, who remains one of the most respected and powerful figures in the game.

The question will now be whether Bennett will offer to pay the fine or Souths will ask their coach to hand over the cash given he is solely culpable for the club’s failure to report, which left them at the mercy of section 16 of the NRL code of conduct.

That clause states that all clubs and officials have a duty to report an incident that may be viewed as a breach of the rules.

The NRL certainly felt that Walker’s actions fell into that category, albeit only when footage of him intervening in a street fight came to light after the Rabbitohs No 6 was the subject of a blackmail attempt at the weekend.

Walker, who was shirtless when he launched a karate kick in defence of his cousin, has already stated that he would accept any punishment that came his way, although he has the opportunity to respond to the sanctions in the next five business days.

Souths are due to resume the season against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night – the deadline for Walker to respond expiring only hours before kick-off. It means the clock is ticking for Souths and Walker should they want for him to be available for the game against the Roosters. Troy Dargan is likely to come into the side should Walker be ruled out.

As well as a two-game suspension, which would mean Walker also misses the round four game against Melbourne, the NSW No 6 was fined $15,000, although the payment will be suspended for 12 months.

The NRL came down on the club even harder despite senior officials being unaware of the incident involving Walker until the blackmail attempt emerged at the weekend. The NRL said in a statement that the $20,000 fine related to the club’s failure to promptly disclose the incident to the governing body.

“All clubs and club officials have a duty to report any incident which may lead to a breach of NRL rules, including suspected breaches, and NRL clubs are responsible for ensuring compliance,” the NRL said.

The NRL also upheld the previous sanctions handed out to Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell, Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr and Newcastle’s Tyronne Roberts-Davis. Mitchell and Addo-Carr were both fined $50,000, the sanctions against the latter more significant given the respective salaries of the pair – Mitchell earns several hundred thousand dollars more than Addo-Carr.

With Walker likely to be absent, Souths will be even more desperate to have James Roberts back in their ranks after he entered a rehabilitation centre.

Roberts is expected to be available but the club must decide whether he is in the right frame of mind to play. As for Walker, teammate Ethan Lowe said he was apologetic.

“It’s something that he’s not proud of, and he’s remorseful for everything that’s happened,” Lowe said.