Bennett insists Souths will keep Walker
RUGBY LEAGUE: Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has boldly declared five-eighth Cody Walker will spurn interest from Gold Coast to sign a new deal with South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs have presented their final offer to Walker for a two-year contract extension that would keep the former NSW State of Origin No.6 at Redfern until 2022.
Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson declared yesterday that the club could do no more to keep Walker, after making a $1.3 million offer, and the ball was now in the player’s court.
Having started his professional career in the Titans’ under-20s team in 2009 alongside current Gold Coast captain Ryan James, Walker has received interest from the club to return to Queensland.
But Bennett said that would not be happening, guaranteeing Walker would ink a new deal before Christmas to remain at South Sydney.
“He will stay at Souths ... the deal is close to being done,” Bennett told News Corp.
“We won’t lose a bloke like Cody Walker. You can’t easily replace a player of his ability.”
Walker, 29, floated between the Titans, Panthers, Storm and Rabbitohs’ lower grade teams between 2009-15 before earning an NRL debut at South Sydney in 2016.
He has made 96 NRL appearances in the past four seasons, barely missing a game, and is considered to be a crucial part of South Sydney.
While he is not off-contract until the end of the 2020 season, Walker’s management is hoping to secure his future in the coming weeks.
“I believe in the next two to three weeks we will get something done,” said Walker’s manager, Matt Rose.
Peter Badel, Travis Meyn