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AAP
Sport
Jamie Wall

Warriors' milestone men reflect on long NRL careers

Warriors Addin Fonua-Blake (l) and Dylan Walker (r) will play milestone games against the Eels. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

It's not often someone plays 200 NRL games, but even rarer still when he gets to share the day with a childhood mate.

Dylan Walker was keen to play down his major career milestone, as well as potentially starting at halfback for the Warriors, paying tribute instead to Addin Fonua-Blake.

The two grew up together in Sydney and Fonua-Blake will play his 150th NRL match when the Warriors take on Parramatta at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.

"My family is pretty excited and rightfully so," Walker said.

"They've been with me every step of the way. This weekend's not just about me, we've got a few others."

Wayde Egan will run out for his 100th NRL clash, but there has been no word yet on whether Shaun Johnson will line up for his 200th appearance for the Warriors. The halfback's wife Kayla is due to give birth so his milestone match may be delayed until the following Sunday against Cronulla.

While coach Andrew Webster wouldn't confirm, it's highly likely that the contingency plan would be for Walker to come off the interchange bench and take Johnson's halves spot.

"I'm not too sure. I've had a few games there this year and across my career, but Tohu Harris might be alright?," Walker joked.

"If Webby calls upon me, I'll be ready."

Walker and Fonua-Blake both grew up and played junior football in Mascot.

"He was a bit of a local gun in the area we grew up," said Fonua-Blake.

"He's done it all, won a grand final, played for Australia, played Origin. Just to be part of his milestone, I'm pretty lucky. You don't get to play too many NRL games with people you've grown up with. I'm really happy I get to lace up the boots and go out there with him."

Walker added: "It's pretty cool, I've known Adds since we were eight or nine years old.

"We went to the same high school and when he got his shot at Manly, we played a lot of football together there too."

The Warriors are coming off a tough 28-6 loss to the Rabbitohs in round 18, an experience Walker says will inspire them against the Eels.

"Last week South Sydney just showed us how to play tough, finals football. Kicking in corners, defending well, suffocation football," he said.

"They taught us a lesson and we took a lot out of it ... they just stuck at it longer than us. To right our wrongs this week, we're probably going to use the same mentality they had."

Walker isn't reading much into Parramatta missing key players Mitch Moses, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Clint Gutherson, who have all been included in NSW's side for next week's final Origin match.

"We had the same situation last weekend a bit against South Sydney," Walker said.

"But teams like that, when they've been so successful for a number of years, it's ingrained in their culture and what they're about. We're not taking anything lightly."

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