Cody Walker’s management chase increase after No.1 shift, Dane Gagai offer at South Sydney Rabbitohs
CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI, The Daily Telegraph
May 16, 2017 6:28pm
CODY Walker could sensationally walk out on South Sydney at the end of the season unless he receives a significant pay rise.
Walker has been one of Souths’ best players this season and is now wearing the all-important No.1 jersey, but the Daily Telegraph can reveal he is one of the worst paid representative stars in the NRL on a pay packet worth around $200,000.
And with the Country Origin representative’s deal to rise to around $260,000 next year, Walker’s management are demanding their star player be paid accordingly, especially
with Dane Gagai reportedly on the verge of accepting a three-year deal worth around $2 million as a centre
Walker’s performances this season could make him a big earner. Image: Gregg Porteous
Most top-line fullbacks in the game are also earning in excess of $700,000, which makes Walker one of the NRL’s biggest bargain buys.
“There are issues with Cody’s deal we’re trying to work through at the moment with Souths,’’ Walker’s new agent Matt Rose said.
“But where that gets to I’m not sure.’’
Walker signed a new deal for next year with an option in his favour for 2019, ignoring a $600,000 three-year deal to join Wayne Bennett at the Broncos. He was happy with the deal at the time he signed.
Several clubs have already made inquiries about Walker should his situation with Souths come to an ugly end.
Walker has not complained to Souths officials, but Rose, who had nothing to do with the current deal, will demand an increase or seek a release.
He struck up a wonderful halves partnership with Adam Reynolds before being shifted to fullback last weekend where he will remain until Greg Inglis recovers from knee surgery.
If the Rabbits are any hope of charging towards the finals, they will need Walker to fire at the back.
Souths stood by Walker when he dealt with several off-field incidents in recent years, and were the club which gave him his NRL debut as a 26-year-old.
Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson said they were happy to revisit Walker’s deal once they knew what the salary cap would be.
Dane Gagai is rumoured to be heading to Redfern. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
Alex Johnston is another player holding out for fullback money, but has only been offered a deal as a winger. The Bunnies are likely to shed another player to make accommodate the pending arrival of Queensland Origin winger Gagai.
“We will look at upgrading Cody once we find out what the salary cap is and what our roster looks like,’’ Richardson said.
“We have no intentions of releasing Cody under any circumstances.’’
Waker has been able to finetune his game under Inglis, one of the game’s greatest modern-day fullbacks, and had a blinder against the Wests Tigers last Friday where he ran for 160m, had two try assists and 10 tackle busts.
He will go head to head with Billy Slater when the Bunnies travel to Perth and host Melbourne on Sunday night.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/8010ac376283c33ff9a3e6145e9e4d48
