Blues fans go ballistic after Cody Walker’s incredible display for NSW – and blast Brad Fittler for not picking him earlier: ‘Luai has scored more in 20 minutes than he has in six games’
New South Wales fans hailed Cody Walker’s impact in the State of Origin final and questioned why Brad Fittler chose Jerome Luay ahead of him for the first two games.
Walker was surprisingly recalled in the Blues set-up for his first New South Wales game since 2020 for Wednesday’s dead rubber at Acre Stadium.
Fittler turned to Walker to bolster an attack that had struggled to match Queensland in the opening two games and the Rabbitohs star immediately sparked the Blues’ moribund attack into life.
Walker almost scored a try in the first play of the game, with Bradman Best touching only for referee Ashley Klein to rule the Newcastle man offside.
The Blues No.6 then had a hand in the Blues’ first try as Brian To’o, Josh Addo-Kar and Best all crossed.
Cody Walker was impressive in his first match for New South Wales since 2020
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Commenting on Channel Nine, Paul Gallen said, ‘That left-arm Cody Walker is tearing the Queensland right-back apart.
Valentine Holmes and Daley Cherry-Evans are currently not in contact.
‘They usually work very well together. Valentine Holmes is stuck in two minds.’
Walker replaced Jerome Lui after the Penrith superstar was frustrated by losses in Game I and Game II.
And many Blues fans questioned why Fittler had not brought Walker into the squad earlier.
‘Cody Walker has done more for the Blues in 20 minutes than Jerome Lui in 20 minutes,’ one fan tweeted.
Another added: ‘For the first time in years New South Wales are ready to play a full 3/4 wide attack and not everything through the middle. Anything you can do and open up, especially with Cody Walker like that makes a huge difference.’
A third said: ‘How good New South Wales look with Cody Walker running the show, suddenly the Blues can attack and go wide again.
New South Wales fans point out that Walker has played more than Jarome Lui in 20 minutes in two games.
Another fan was vindicated after suggesting Walker should have played Game II
Onlookers said the Blues looked incredibly more fluent with Walker in the side
Walker’s influence revived the deadly attack in New South Wales
‘And amazingly, Fox is fine when he plays on his natural side. Common sense finally prevails for Freddie to play his swansong.’
Before the end of the series, Fittler said he felt Walker could give the Blues a focused motivation with the ball in hand.
“There will be pressure at times in the game but he deals with it well at his club,” Fittler said.
‘It will be different, he has different team-mates and he hasn’t had the chance to work with them as much.
‘But there’s nobody better at doing what he does, so I’m looking forward to it.
‘He was not afraid, not overwhelmed.’
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