The South Sydney Rabbitohs have locked in superstar five-eighth Cody Walker on a one-year extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2023.
The 31-year-old was one of the hottest names to come off contract at the end of next season and could have been poached by rivals had the Bunnies not moved to lock him in just as the November 1 feeding frenzy for 2023 begins.
Walker is coming off his best season to date after being named the Dally M Five-eighth of the Year and finishing third overall in the Dally M count.
The four-time New South Wales considers the Bunnies his “home” and is determined to win a premiership with the club after falling one short this year.
“I really happy to be extending my stay at South Sydney for another season. This is my home,” Walker said via a club statement.
“I’m really excited about what is ahead for the team under ‘JD’ (Jason Demetriou) and we have some young stars coming through who are going be great players for this club.
“I feel I have a role in helping lead this team over the next few years and I making sure these young boys have every opportunity to put their best foot forward as they start out their NRL careers.
“We have a great culture within the team and the club, and it’s also a club that respects our cultures outside of football.
“The work that we get to do within the community through Souths Cares and other initiatives like the Rising Warriors Program through Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation, the Club knows how important that is for me and supports me and the other boys in what we want to do to help the community. That’s so important for us and it only binds us closer together.
“South Sydney is my home and my family. My partner plays for the club too and my boys want to play for the Rabbitohs one day. It really is home.
“We came so close to achieving our goal this year and it has made us all hungrier to get that premiership success and win number 22 for the Rabbitohs.
“I can’t wait to rip in with the boys and get season 2022 going. It’s going to be another great year and we’ll get to play in front of our members and fans in Sydney more this coming season as well.
“It’s going to be very special.”
FULL TRANSFER CENTRE
BRONCOS
2022 squad:Jesse Arthars (2023), Logan Bayliss (2023), Kurt Capewell (2024), Patrick Carrigan (2022), Selwyn Cobbo (2023), Herbie Farnworth (2022), Thomas Flegler (2023), Tyson Gamble (2023) Payne Haas (2024), Kobe Hetherington (2023), Jamayne Isaako (2022), Ryan James (2022), Albert Kelly (2022), Corey Jensen (2023), Rhys Kennedy (2022), Brenko Lee (2022), David Mead (2022), Tesi Niu (2023), Corey Oates (2021, PO 22), Cory Paix (2023), Keenan Palasia (2022), Jordan Pereira (2023), Brendan Piakura (2024), Adam Reynolds (2024), Jordan Riki (2024), Teui Robati (2024), Kotoni Staggs (2025), Jake Turpin (2022), Xavier Willison (2023)
2022 gains:Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), Kurt Capewell (Panthers), Brenko Lee (Storm), Corey Jensen (Cowboys), Logan Bayliss (Souths Logan), Jordan Pereira (Dragons), Ryan James (Raiders)
2022 losses: Xavier Coates (Storm), Tevita Pangai Jnr (Bulldogs), Brodie Croft (Salford), Anthony Milford (Rabbitohs), Alex Glenn (retirement), John Asiata (Bulldogs), Ethan Bullemor (Sea Eagles)
RAIDERS
2022 squad: Jarrod Croker (2023 PO for 2024), Jamal Fogarty (2024), Emre Guler (2023), Corey Harawira-Naera (2022), Josh Hodgson (2022), Peter Hola (2024), Corey Horsburgh (2022), Sebastian Kris (2024), Trey Mooney (2024), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (2023), Josh Papalii (2024, PO 25), Jordan Rapana (2023), Harry Rushton (2023), Xavier Savage (2023), Brad Schneider (2023), Curtis Scott (2023), Bailey Simonsson (2023), Harley Smith-Shields (2023), Tom Starling (2022), Ryan Sutton (2022), Joe Tapine (2023), Matthew Timoko (2024), Semi Valemei (2024), Elliott Whitehead (2024), Jack Wighton (2022, PO 23,24), Hudson Young (2024).
2022 gains: Jamal Fogarty (Titans), Peter Hola (Cowboys)
2022 losses: Ryan James (Broncos), Siliva Havili (Rabbitohs), Dunamis Lui (released), Darby Medlyn (released), Caleb Aekins (released)
Coach: Ricky Stuart (2023)
BULLDOGS
2022 squad: Josh Addo-Carr (2025), Paul Alamoti (2023), Corey Allan (2023), John Asiata (2022), Jake Averillo (2023), Bailey Biondi-Odo (2023), Braidon Burns (2023), Matt Burton (2023 PO 24), Josh Cook (2023), Nick Cotric (2024), Matt Doorey (2022), Matt Dufty (2022), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2022), Kyle Flanagan (2023), Jack Hetherington (2022 MO 23), Josh Jackson (2023), Tuipulotu Katoa (2022), Max King (2022), Jeremy Marshall-King (2022 PO 23), Brent Naden (2023), Jayden Okunbor (2023), Tevita Pangai Jnr (2024), Aaron Schoupp (2024), Ava Seumanufagai (2022), Joe Stimson (2022), Luke Thompson (2023), Jackson Topine (2022), Corey Waddell (2023), Brandon Wakeham (2022)
2022 gains: Matt Burton (Panthers), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Brent Naden (Panthers), Matt Dufty (Dragons), Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Tevita Pangai Jnr (Broncos/Panthers), Josh Cook (Rabbitohs), John Asiata (Broncos), Max King (Storm), Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs)
2022 losses: Nick Meaney (Storm), Renouf Atoni (Roosters), Will Hopoate (St Helens), Lachlan Lewis (released), Sione Katoa (released), Dean Britt (released), Chris Smith (released), James Roumanos (released), Brad Deitz (released) Watson Heleta (released) and Kiko Manu (released).
Coach: Trent Barrett (2023)
