Souths superstar Cody Walker has broken his silence by finding himself at the center of the rift that saw club icon Sam Burgess walk away last season, following claims that Walker and Latrell Mitchell were receiving preferential treatment.
Burgess left the Rabbitohs with immediate effect in August last year and the club struggled to keep their weakened season alive.
It came after accusations that coach Jason Demetriou had divided the team by showing preferential treatment to two of the team’s biggest stars: Mitchell and Walker.
A crisis meeting allegedly involving Hollywood star Russell Crowe took place, although the club denied his involvement, before Burgess left the clubhouse with his pregnant partner and did not return.
Cody Walker (left) and Latrell Mitchell (centre) were at the center of a rift between former South Sydney assistant coach Sam Burgess and head coach Jason Demetriou.
Burgess (pictured at Souths training) claimed Walker and Mitchell received preferential treatment before leaving the club in an explosive split.
Demetriou maintained his position despite the allegations and the fact that South Sydney crashed out of the finals at the end of the season after leading the competition mid-season.
He later issued the following statement: “I have made the decision to move away from South Sydney, given the circumstances.” “My immediate focus is on the birth of our baby and preparing for my new role at Warrington.”
Conflict with Burgess was the last thing the Rabbitohs needed as they went from premiership fantasies at the start of the season to abandoning the finals race altogether despite being top of the standings midway through the season.
Walker now says the explosion last August shook his confidence with everyone and everything at the club.
“I still don’t know what to believe,” he said. Sydney Morning Herald.
Walker said the claims of preferential treatment left him confused and he confronted Demetriou about it to get clarity.
“I’m still not sure what that really means,” he said of the claims.
‘I spoke personally to JD (Demetriou) about it right away. I said, “Is this happening to you? Do you feel like this?” I said, “I wouldn’t want to be in a club if that ever happens.”
However, Walker is not pretending everything was rosy at Redfern last season.
The sometimes volatile team plays the game with its heart on its sleeve and admits there are sometimes tense moments in training.
But he denied ever abandoning training, another accusation he had endured last season.
“There are times on the training park when it bothers me,” Walker said.
‘But I don’t give up training. I never give up training.
‘There are times when I get nervous in training and say what needs to be said. If someone isn’t doing their job, I have the right to tell them, right? It’s my job as the team’s senior playmaker. To say I stop training and do all that kind of stuff, I’ve never actually done that.
‘It’s crazy to think that someone can do that. Everyone knows that I am vocal and lively. That’s me wanting to win. I hate to lose. I can’t stand losing. “I’m one of those guys that if someone is not doing their job on the team, I tell them.”
Demetriou also denied claims of preferential treatment.
“The feeling of being entitled or that people are getting special treatment or being allowed to get away with things was never accurate in my mind,” he said.
Club boss Blake Solly was left baffled by comments made by Burgess and took aim at the late superstar, who often made headlines for controversial reasons during his time with the team.
“An accusation from Sam about special treatment, given the support we always showed Sam, seemed a little strange to me,” he said.
‘We have supported Sam through more challenges in his playing career and personal life than anyone who has been associated with our club.
“He should know better than anyone the support we provide to our players and staff.”
Demetriou has also denied any claims of preferential treatment towards Walker and Mitchell.
Walker has praised the mental toughness of Mitchell, who has endured much criticism.
Walker also spoke glowingly about Mitchell and how he handled the constant criticism he receives from the media and NRL public on social media.
“I’m surprised how mentally strong he is,” Walker said.
‘What a strong will he has. How determined he is at such a young age. He’s 27 now and I was only two years into my NRL career at that age.
“He could never withstand the level of scrutiny he is under. He would have had enough of the scrutiny placed on him in society, let alone in football.
Mitchell himself wants to distance himself from what happened last season.
‘We’ll leave that there, mate. We don’t dwell on the past,” Mitchell said.
‘We put the team first and we put ourselves first and that’s all that matters. I am surrounded by good people, loving life. My colleagues are good. They just want me to show up and be me, and they let me be me. I get to do that and I’m so grateful for them.
‘You have to move on, otherwise you focus on things that happen in the media and so on. It just consumes you.’