Rabbitohs phenom Cody Walker was distraught after his cataclysmic blunder proved a major turning point in Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.
It was a moment Cody Walker won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Scores were locked at 8-8 with 16 minutes remaining in Sunday evening’s thrilling NRL Grand Final. The South Sydney Rabbitohs had just put together a classy passage of defensive play to keep themselves in the contest at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Now on the offensive, Walker attempted a cut out pass to unmarked winger Alex Johnston near the 50m line.
But Stephen Crichton pounced.
Watch Fox League‘s massive line-up of Grand Final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >
The Panthers young gun picked off Walker’s pass and strolled over the line untouched to give Penrith the lead.
“I got hammered from the defensive coach (Cameron Ciraldo) all week,” Crichton explained to Channel 9.
“I moved from fullback to centre to wing. I guess just sticking to our principles and that was the read that came out of it.
“Having Walker there he is one of the best in the league and eyes for the footy and space to put their players in. We did video on that during the week and I was there at the right time.”
It was a heartbreaking moment for Walker, who had been South Sydney’s most consistent player throughout the 2021 season.
“I feel very sorry for Cody Walker throwing the intercept pass,” Parramatta Eels legend Peter Sterling told Channel 9.
“Really difficult to be critical of someone looking to be creative and try to come up with the matchwinning play. Three or four minutes before the intercept he did the grubber kick. It wasn‘t the right play.
“It was a sign of impatience and pushing the envelope too much. If you push deep into the line as the playmaker it is fraught with danger, and he paid the price.”
Penrith ultimately secured a 14-12 victory to claim their first premiership in 18 years.
Walker contributed a linebreak, two linebreak assists, 76 run metres and a try in the season finale.
Before that fateful pass in the 66th minute, he would have been one of the contenders for the Clive Churchill Medal.
That honour went to Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary.
“It honestly feels like a dream,” Cleary said after the triumph.
“We have been working so long to get to this moment. Everyone back in Penrith it is for you guys and I can’t wait to party when we get back. We did it.
“We did it, we climbed Everest.”
Cleary and his father Ivan have become the first father-son combination to win a premiership since John Lang and Martin Lang achieved the feat in 2003.
– with Tyson Otto
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
