Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Joel Gould

Cody Walker on high as 'good omen' looms for Rabbitohs

South Sydney's Cody Walker returns to the side on a high after his State of Origin heroics for NSW. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker has been tipped to have a stellar run to the NRL finals after his State of Origin heroics, and is preparing for a return to a happy hunting ground in Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The eighth-placed Rabbitohs are undefeated in four games at the venue, where they play Brisbane on Friday night.

Walker was voted best on ground in NSW's 24-10 win over Queensland in game three of the series in Sydney.

"He will come back from his man-of-the-match performance in Origin on a high and that will put us in good stead," Souths legend Craig Coleman told AAP.

"Cody was outstanding for NSW but he has been outstanding the last two or three years. Ninety-five per cent of our attack is Cody ... and then his mate Latrell (Mitchell) pops up."

After Thursday's training run on the Sunshine Coast, Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said star fullback Latrell Mitchell had recovered from a calf injury and would be right to play his first game since round 12 "so long as he pulls up well in the morning".

Mitchell and Walker as a duo give South Sydney so much creative spark and their reunion will be pivotal against the Broncos.

The Rabbitohs get their NSW Origin quartet of Walker, Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi back while returning Mitchell, centre Campbell Graham and forward Jai Arrow also missed the 36-32 loss to Canterbury in round 19 due to injury.

"They are pretty big ins for us," Demetriou said.

"Origin three from our perspective couldn't have gone better. Cam started for the first time at No.13 and was really impressive to watch and Cody controlled the game from start to finish.

"There is a lot of confidence with those guys. Keaon's (Origin) debut couldn't have gone much better for him."

Walker scored four tries at Sunshine Coast Stadium in a man-of-the-match display against the Warriors back in 2019.

"We are staying in the same hotel ... so hopefully that is an omen for tomorrow night," Demetriou said.

The Rabbitohs are on 24 points and must start winning on a regular basis if they are to make the top four.

"You can't win the comp from outside the top four. Souths need to go on a run but they know that," Coleman said.

"With the players Souths have got they can do it, but we've lost five of the last seven.

"That is not good for your confidence but we will get confidence by having the big guns back."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.