Cody Walker ruled out of crucial NRL match with calf injury, replaced by Dion Teaupa.
South Sydney's already slim NRL finals hopes have been dealt a crushing new blow, with star playmaker Cody Walker ruled out of Saturday night's crunch showdown away to Cronulla due to a calf injury. Interim Souths coach Ben Hornby named Walker to start in the halves against the Sharks but revealed at training on Friday that the veteran was "not right" and would take no part in the match.
The Rabbitohs halfback injured the calf during last week's loss to Canberra and tried testing it out at Souths training on Friday, but ultimately succumbed to the issue. Walker's place in the Rabbitohs side is set to be taken by Dion Teaupa, who has played just three NRL games for Souths this year.
Hornby confirmed the devastating news about Walker when asked about his inspirational playmaker during a press conference at Souths training on Friday. "He's not right, he won't play," the interim coach said. "He hurt his calf last week. He tried to give it a go today but it's just not right, so we'll give it another week and go from there.