Peter Badel
October 30, 2021 - 2:50PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Souths superstar Cody Walker has stayed loyal to the Rabbitohs in a $600,000 Redfern coup that has scuppered any hope of new Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett luring his former pivot to Queensland.
News Corp can reveal Walker has rejected the opportunity to test his value on the open market from Monday, instead inking a one-year extension to continue his career at South Sydney until the end of 2023.
Walker was one of the hottest properties coming off-contract next season and there were fears the Dally M contender could quit Souths and follow Bennett to the Dolphins after forging strong ties with the super coach at the Rabbitohs.
But Walker will not be a marquee signing for Bennett’s Dolphins for their 2023 premiership debut.
The five-eighth has agreed terms on a 12-month contract with the Rabbitohs to formally announce Walker’s retention this week.
The development is a major coup for Bennett’s Souths successor Jason Demetriou, who could not afford to lose Walker given that his halves partner, Adam Reynolds, will link with the Broncos next season.
Bennett had pledged not to deliberately target Souths talent and while he is a huge fan of Walker’s match-winning ability, the former Souths coach was happy to leave the ball in the playmaker’s court.
The 31-year could have attracted offers in excess of $800,000 annually on the open market, but has no interest in a market bidding war and is taking less money to stay with the Souths club that gave Walker his NRL debut in 2016.
The former NSW Origin pivot enjoyed the best season of his career in 2021, finishing third in Dally M Medal voting as his playmaking brilliance powered the Rabbitohs to the grand final against Penrith.
While Walker had a bitter-sweet decider, throwing the intercept pass for Stephen Crichton’s premiership-winning try, he finished the season with a league-high 33 try assists and 46 line-break assists.
Speaking to News Corp in the lead-up to the NRL grand final, Walker, who turns 32 in January, said he was happy at Souths and was hoping to extend his career at Redfern to an eighth season.
“I absolutely love the club,” he said. “I love everything about Souths and my kids love the club, so I can’t see why I wouldn’t stay.
“You never know what the future can hold, but I can’t see myself playing for another club.
“It would be nice to finish my career here.”
Bennett has his work cut out delivering a big-name recruit as the Dolphins’ first signing.
Melbourne has taken up the option on star hooker Harry Grant for 2023, the Titans have tabled a monster $3.3 million deal to Queensland Origin forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and now Walker is staying put at South Sydney.
In the absence of Reynolds next season, Walker will assume more responsibility as Souths’ No.1 playmaker and he is hoping to retain the No.6 jumper following the signing of Broncos pivot Anthony Milford.
“I am looking forward to playing with a guy like ‘Milf’,” Walker said earlier this month.
“That is a bit down the track at the moment, but in time I hope we can be a successful combination.
“I’d like to stay at six so we’ll see what ‘JD’ (Demetriou) decides to do.
“The one thing Souths will do for Milf is provide the right environment for him. They are a club that cares for its players.
“Milf can come here with no expectation, or at least less expectation that he had at Brisbane.
“He is capable of playing a number of roles, so hopefully Milf comes here with a great mindset to improve himself and we can have some fun.”
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