South Sydney veteran Cody Walker says he “thinks” he can play on in 2027 but hasn’t decided if he wants to continue running around in the NRL after he stole the show for the Rabbitohs in their big win over Parramatta.
Walker scored his third double of the season and is moving freely after a horror 2025 where he was plagued by soft tissue injuries that restricted him to just 11 appearances.
But he showed on Thursday night against the Eels that he still has the skills and the smarts to go around again next year when he would be 37, with few players in the NRL able to ball play the way Walker has for the past decade.
“That’s the God-given stuff that you can’t coach. He’s got plenty of that,” Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said.
“I’d think he’d like to play on if he could, and we’d like him to play on if he can. Right now it’s looking good for him.”
Broncos veteran Ben Hunt signed a one-year extension earlier in the week and is actually two months younger than Walker, although he made his NRL debut seven seasons before his Rabbitohs rival.
Walker waited until September 3 last year to sign his latest deal with the club, and he’s in no rush to make a decision.
“I don’t know. I’m not going to put a definite answer on that,” he said.
“I think I can (play again). I’m just enjoying my footy again, you know what I mean?
“I’ve had a few lean years with some injuries and things like that. I think two years ago I managed to play a whole heap of games, but I was running on one leg with my knee.
“And then last year was very disappointing because I only played 11 games and I had all those soft tissue injuries and things like that. So it’s been a disappointing few years.
“But to be fair, I haven’t really given it any thought. I’ve just really enjoyed being out there and playing footy.
“I’ve loved the game since I was three or four years old and I’ll continue to love it until I’m in a wheelchair. I think you’ll have to get me out of the game in a wheelchair.
“I reckon I’ll continue playing at some form when I do decide to hang the boots up, whichever year that is.”
Walker doesn’t know when his time will come to an end in the NRL, but he dreams about one day playing country footy with his kids and inspiring the next generation.
“Confidence-wise, I feel like I can so there’s no question about that,” he said.
“It’s if I want to go through another pre-season, and I’m not quite sure.
“I love playing the game. It’s one of the things I’ve wanted to do since I was a young kid, so I don’t want to put an end date on it. I’m just enjoying being out there at the moment.”
Originally published as ‘I think I can’: Cody Walker’s cryptic response as Souths star weighs up playing one more year for the Rabbitohs