Legends stunned by ‘really light’ ban for ‘dumb’ Walker kick
Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith both believe South Sydney playmaker Cody Walker got off lightly for kicking another player on Friday night.
Walker had an astonishing brain snap during Souths’ 36-14 loss to Penrith when he lashed out with his left leg and kicked Panthers halfback Jack Cogger.
Cody Walker runs off after being sent to the sin bin. Nine
The match review committee offered the 36-year-old a one-game ban and he will face two games out if the fights the charge at the judiciary and loses.
“He’s lucky, Cody, he didn’t get sent off,” Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“Back in the dark ages - the bad old days or the good old days of the 1970s, when squirrel grips were allowed, if you kicked or tripped someone, you were gone.”
Smith was unequivocal in his thoughts on the incident and punishment.
“I think a one-week suspension is really light,” the Storm legend said.
“I just think kicking in general should be a higher charge automatically.”
Walker, who was sin-binned for the kick on Cogger, apologised and showed remorse in Souths’ post-game press conference.
“It wasn’t good enough,” Walker, the Rabbitohs captain, said.
“As a senior player I have to be better in those moments and not let the aggression get the better of me. I let the team down. I am really sorry about that.
“I spoke to Jack after the game and apologised to him. I let the team down massively. It just wasn’t good enough as a senior player.
“I got that one wrong, I will own that, there are no excuses for that.”
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett had limited words when asked for his take, simply admitting “it did not make me happy”.
Nine caller Mat Thompson was dumbfounded and asked ‘what he was thinking’ before Paul Gallen scolded the veteran playmaker.
“It is 10 minutes in the sin bin every day of the week,” the Sharks legend said on Nine.
“Had he been sent off for that I wouldn’t have complained. It was such a stupid, dumb thing to do.”
Walker's actions ultimately cost his rookie teammate a try. Nine
Just after the kick, Souths rookie Dayne Jennings went over in the right corner. If the try had stood, the Rabbitohs would have had a conversion attempt to level the scores at 6-6, but the try was disallowed because of Walker’s indiscretion.
Cogger was also sin-binned on Friday night, having hit Souths halfback Ashton Ward high and now faces a two-week suspension.
