South Sydney veteran Cody Walker revealed he felt like a burden on his team as he battled a string of injuries that restricted him to just 11 games last year.
The five-eighth has turned a corner this summer and is preparing to enter a campaign healthy for the first time since 2023 after completing a full pre-season.
Walker revealed a calf injury in the 2024 pre-season left him on the backfoot and he has been playing catch up ever since.
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Cody Walker Try
“I did my calf straight after Christmas so I was limping into Vegas in Round 1,” Walker said. “Then I had issues with my knee and I needed surgery.
“It’s been two full seasons and the [2024] pre-season, so it’s been a while [since I’ve been healthy]. It’s been disappointing on a personal level.
“When you’re in and out like that you feel like you’re letting your team down and you start to feel like you’re a bit of a burden and it was tough.
“It’s been good to get that work into my body and start the year really well. I don’t think I’ve had a trial in the last two or three years so it’s been good.”
Walker was talking at the unveiling of a new community partnership between the Rabbitohs and sponsor USANA.
The sponsor has donated $50,000 to the club’s Souths Cares program to further the work done in the South Sydney community.
The Rabbitohs also have plenty to celebrate on the field, with Walker headlining a long list of players back on deck from injury-riddled years.
Latrell Mitchell, Cam Murray and Campbell Graham are top of the list and have the club eyeing a return to the finals.
South Sydney will open their campaign against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon in an early battle between two clubs looking to climb into the top eight this year.
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All Tries – Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
The fruits of a full pre-season were on display in Mudgee last month as Walker starred in the Rabbitohs Witzer Pre-Season Challenge victory over Manly.
The 36-year-old finished with three line-breaks and a try in a performance that hailed back to the playmaker’s dynamic best.
Walker has faced plenty of questions over his playing future but is confident he can still deliver the performances his club needs to contend for a title.
“I don’t think I’ve played that style of footy for a while now,” he said. “Being busy around the footy and getting offloads away, I haven’t done that over the last couple of years because of the work I unfortunately haven’t had in the pre-season.
“Touch wood I haven’t had any hiccups [this year] in terms of injuries that have popped up in the pre-season the last couple of years. It’s important to bank that good bit of work and get the load into my body to build for the long season ahead.”
While many of the club’s big guns are healthy and ready to fire, the Rabbitohs are still battling a number of injuries.
Hooker Brandon Smith will miss the first two rounds after picking up a calf injury at training last week, halfback Jamie Humphreys is suspended for the opening two games, Jonah Glover broke his jaw in the Charity Shield and Jayden Sullivan is racing the clock to return from off-season leg surgery.
The absence of three playmakers will likely see Ashton Ward step into the No.7 jersey and partner Walker in the halves.
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Ashton Ward Try
The 22-year-old pulled the strings on a new-look right edge in the win over the Sea Eagles, orchestrating the side’s first try.
Centre Jack Wighton has shifted from the left edge to the right to accommodate Mitchell’s return to the centres and Graham will line up on the wing.
Wighton has been impressed with Ward’s development and backed the Gerringong product to deliver if called upon against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.
“He’s a great young kid,” Wighton said. “It’s a bit daunting being next to such a dominant half like Cody but he’s owning his role, he’s organising the team and all the little supports, making his tackles and getting repeat sets.
“That’s all you can ask from a half. It’s been really good working with him and I back the big fella all the way.”