Cody Walker firming for Las Vegas as Rabbitohs depart for NRL season opener
Cody Walker is firming for the NRL season opener in Las Vegas, with the Rabbitohs five-eighth expected to overcome a calf injury for their clash with Manly.
The 34-year-old missed the All Stars game on Friday night and has since returned to training with South Sydney, but didn't fly with the rest of the squad on Monday afternoon as they headed to San Diego for a training camp.
The club is hopeful Walker will be able to line up in the No.6 jumper against the Sea Eagles at Allegiant Stadium, with new recruit Jack Wighton suspended and Souths lacking another quality option to fill the playmaking role.
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Speaking to 9News Sydney prior to their departure, head coach Jason Demetriou revealed that the NSW Origin star is on track to play in the historic fixture.
Cody Walker will hopefully join his Rabbitohs teammates for the Las Vegas season opener. Getty
"He had a run this morning, he will progress through this week and join the team in the next week, as long as all goes well," Demetriou said.
"He is in a great headspace, he feels he is gonna be good to go and that's probably the best sign we've had."
Souths will fly via Fiji to the US, with the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray slated to light up Sin City on March 3.
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Every 2024 NRL club jersey: Staggering detail in Warriors tribute strip
But after a horror second-half of their 2023 campaign, an excited Demetriou put the emphasis back on the task at hand, which is coming back home with two competition points and starting 2024 in the right direction.
"I was nervous about going to sleep, you're that excited - it was like Santa Claus was coming today," he said at the airport.
"There's nothing normal about it, there's certainly a sense of privilege to represent the game, the NRL and also our club. We're really excited to get over there, it's round one ... to be doing it in Vegas is pretty special.
Jason Demetriou will lead South Sydney into a huge season opener in the United States. Getty
"If I'm explaining how important it is to the players, then we haven't done our jobs through pre-season. I think the way we finished our season and the way we've built our pre-season, we know what we're going over there for.
"We'll make sure we spend time together, it's important that we enjoy each other's company ... but come kick-off, we will be ready to go."
Demetriou's side recorded an impressive pre-season win against the Dragons on Saturday night, despite a number of big names missing in action.
