Walker’s driven by Latrell treatment

CODY Walker has declared Souths can win the NRL premiership without Latrell Mitchell and revealed anger over the fullback superstar’s suspension was his driving force.

Their bond forged by Indigenous ties, Walker is one of Mitchell’s closest confidantes in the NRL.

The Rabbitohs pivot says the savage criticism Mitchell (pictured) copped for the brutal tackle that left Roosters rival Joseph Manu with a fractured cheekbone had galvanised Souths in the run to the grand final against Penrith on Sunday.

“We can win it without Latrell,” Walker said.

“You can’t replace a guy like Latrell but I know we can take our game to another level without him and that’s motivating for me.

“What has given us confidence is Latrell missing the back end of last year due to his hamstring injury.

“Everyone wrote us off then and we were still able to play some good football to make the prelim final.

“Myself, Damien Cook (hooker), Benji (Marshall) and ‘Reyno’ (halfback Adam Reynolds) meet once a week to go over the way we want to play, so our key playmakers are still there. We still have the strike outside backs that can score points.”

Walker, 31, is so determined to take the Rabbitohs to the holy grail that Souths’ man of the moment says he will happily concede the Dally M Medal in favour of a maiden premiership ring.

The playmaking maestro has produced a sizzling lateseason form burst to put himself in contention for the Dally M Medal but says there is only one prize he truly covets.

“I want that premiership ring more than anything,” he said.

“I would 100 per cent rather win the premiership with my teammates than the Dally M.”

Walker has a remarkable 37 try assists, 55 line-break assists and 15 tries this year.