NRL 2023: Cody Walker opens up on Rod Churchill furore, South Sydney Rabbitohs drama

South Sydney star Cody Walker has revealed he was so concerned over recent rumours he met with coach Jason Demetriou and teammates to address the allegations.

Cody Walker has spoken out about recent drama, hitting out at suggestions that he and Latrell Mitchell run the club. Picture: Getty Images.

South Sydney superstar Cody Walker has refused to be drawn into the Rod Churchill furore but he has hit out at suggestions that he and Latrell Mitchell run the Rabbitohs, describing the claims as laughable and crap.

Walker fronted the media on Tuesday morning following days of negative headlines surrounding the club, many of them related to the perceived influence of he and Mitchell over the club.

Souths assistant coach and Rabbitohs legend Sam Burgess walked away last week amid claims that he was unhappy with the differing standards at Souths, an allegation that was strongly refuted by head coach Jason Demetriou and now Walker.

On Tuesday, Souths hooker Damien Cook raised concerns that Mitchell would follow suit given the intense scrutiny he has been placed under in recent days. Walker has been forced to endure similar pressure and revealed he had addressed the claims of preferential treatment with Demetriou as well as team leaders Cook and Cameron Murray.

“That’s laughable that the reports think that,” Walker said.

“I don’t really know how to answer it. It is crap to put not nicely. I spoke to JD and I asked the question whether that was the case.

Cody Walker has spoken out about recent drama, hitting out at suggestions that he and Latrell Mitchell run the club. Picture: Getty Images.

“I said if it ever got to that point I would want you to tell me, because I would never want to be at a club like that.

“Then spoke to the senior players in Cooky, Cammo and Latrell as there. I said if you ever feel like that is the case I would like to know about it and I would never like to be at a club like that.

“I don’t think anyone would.”

Walker has also been at the centre of claims he and Demetriou had been involved in an angry exchange in front of the playing group.

“As a leader of the footy team, I offer my opinion,” Walker said.

“At the end of the day the buck stops with JD right. Whatever JD says, goes. Same with the leadership group – Cameron is the captain.

“We offer our opinion for our thoughts around any situation but when the decision is made we all back that decision. I am certainly no different.”

Walker has denied that he and Mitchell receive preferential treatment, claims which saw Sam Burgess walk away from the club. Picture: Getty Images.

Walker, however, shut down when it came to Churchill, the son of club legend Clive Churchill who made outlandish claims about Mitchell.

Rod Churchill subsequently apologised, but the damage had been done and Walker had no interest in giving him any more oxygen.

“I didn’t even want to say anything about the other situation, let alone this new one,” he said.

“I am not here to focus on anything externally, I am here to win a game of football. It is one of the biggest games of the season.

“Everything is on the line to play finals footy. All of my energy is going into Friday night. I just can’t wait to get out there.”

Walker refused to be drawn into the Rod Churchill furore, after his criticism of Mitchell. Picture: Getty Images.

Those comments have raised fresh fears over the future of Mitchell, who will miss Friday night’s must-win game against the Sydney Roosters through suspension.

“I would like to hope that it won’t happen, but when you go through moments like we have, you wouldn’t be surprised if he when he finishes his next contract, he goes ‘enough is enough, I’m 30 now, that will do me’,” Cook said.

“I hope not, I hope we don’t lose a superstar of our game, probably the most talked-about player in our game and the most recognised player in the NRL.

“I hope we don’t lose him any earlier because of issues like this.”

Walker’s overriding concern at the moment is Friday night and the Roosters. A win will guarantee Souths a spot in the finals. A loss will leave them out of the top eight.

Walker conceded his own form had been poor in recent weeks but believes the Roosters can bring out the best in not just him, but the a Rabbitohs side that has struggled to find its rhythm in recent weeks.

“Cameron made a good point the other day,” Walker said.

“It can do one of two things – it can destabilise us, it can ruin our season, whatever words you want to use to describe it.

“But it could bring us tighter together. There is no other way out of it then forward. We have to get out of it together.

“If I am honest my performances haven’t been the greatest over the last couple of weeks. Am I happy with my performance? No. Am I happy with my form? Definitely not.

“But I am working really hard to turn it around. Whenever you play against the Roosters, it is always a massive occasion. “This is going to be no different. It is a huge occasion.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Cody Walker opens up on Rod Churchill furore, South Sydney Rabbitohs drama