Cody Walker is back in the NSW State of Origin fold after being called into the Blues’ extended squad for this year’s series.
Walker was one of three South Sydney players added to Brad Fittler’s group on Sunday, alongside mainstays Damien Cook and Cameron Murray.
Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton have also earned selection following Canberra’s elimination from finals, while Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham is the notable omission from the teams knocked out this weekend.
The additions mean there will be seven spots available for selection from next week’s grand finalists Penrith and Melbourne.
Walker’s selection will at least come as some small consolation after the Rabbitohs’ 20-16 loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.
After debuting in Game I last year, the Souths five-eighth was dropped following Queensland’s 18-14 triumph.
Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary is still believed to be the front-runner for the No.6 jersey, but Walker remains some chance or could even play as a No.14.
“He has been awesome, absolutely awesome,” Fittler said.
He gave the Rabbitohs every chance against Penrith last night and they almost got away with it again.”
NSW will enter camp on Monday, with the team to head to the state’s Central Coast before the series opener in Adelaide on November 4.
Cotric was another man to make his debut in last year’s series opener, before injury ruled him out of Game II.
Blake Ferguson took his spot for the remainder of the series, but has been left out of this year’s 27-man squad.
“He’s a great finisher, I look forward to seeing Nick,” Fittler said of Cotric.
“He has been part of our camp for the past few years.”
Daniel Tupou is already a part of the Blues’ squad on the wing, while Josh Addo-Carr will be added next week and Josh Mansour remains a chance.
NSW STATE OF ORIGIN SQUAD (20 OF 27 SELECTED)
Nathan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Boyd Cordner, Nick Cotric, Angus Crichton, Tyson Frizell, Clint Gutherson, Payne Haas, Luke Keary, Zac Lomax, Cameron McInnes, Cameron Murray, Junior Paulo, Daniel Saifiti, James Tedesco, Jake Trbojevic, Daniel Tupou, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
When Cody Walker is on fire, there's very few players in the league that can match him in terms of skill and entertainment. Truly inspiring.
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
It’s tainted a lot of peoples view of Cody. To be honest, Cody, Keary or Wighton would do the job. In my opinion Cody and Cleary would light QLD up.
Dan
Guest
It seems an unpopular opinion but I think it was a massive over-reaction to hook/drop Cody last year. I have rewatched the game since. The blues were in front when he got hooked. Wighton comes on and throws a gift intercept and Queensland hit the front. Walker comes back on and sets up a try for Jake T and almost pulls it out of the fire, they end up losing by 4. Although I think Cleary deserves his spot he is yet to register one try assist in 6 complete games. He is twice the player this year but he has been shown a lot more patience. I tend to think Cody's failure in that game has been greatly exagerated by people that were death riding him because of his stance on the anthem
Nat
Roar Rookie
TBH I didn't see it as an agenda last year. He was asked and answered truthfully. Also adding this was his personal choice not some campaign as such.
egbert
Guest
Cotric deserves his spot in the wider squad but I'm not sure he should be in the 17: been a bit iffy defensively in the final weeks (which admittedly could partly be down to the deficiencies of Rapana inside him). Wighton and Gutherson as centres, Addo-Carr and Tupou on wings.
Big Daddy
Guest
If he does have some sort of agenda and goes public he should have his papers stamped. Let's hope not.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Not a journo buddy and don't care whether he sings it or not. Wait till he fronts the media though.
357SmithNwesson
Guest
None . You already have .
Phil
Roar Rookie
Either Keary or Walker would do the job for NSW, but I think Freddie will go for Keary. Wighton would be the best option however he is needed to play centre with no Tommy and Staggs who I thought was a certainty to make the squad. Lomax or Gutherson for the other centre spot.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Good luck to you Cody (not really). This position will be the most interesting one in the team. So how many questions will be face before someone goes the 'Anthem' route?
Tony
Roar Guru
This year's origin may be a case of last man standing
357SmithNwesson
Guest
Cmon , it was an act of valour, he was defending his cousin ? I’m with you HY , the NRL appear to be at ease with trying to create as many bad headlines as they can at times .
R N
Roar Rookie
Cook is great but on form Api K should be the starting hooker... mind you the way he was holding his shoulder he probably only has one more game in him this year!
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Good luck Cody, you’ve been in scintillating form ever since Reynolds went down injured against St George and you lead the come back. Cook 9, Cleary 7, Walker 6 and Lil Papi at 1 would be a damaging combination.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
In my honestly held personal opinion, I don’t think perpetrators of cowardly assaults should be showing up in any ‘best of’ teams which are marketed to the general public. Until the NRL actually gets out of the back lanes, the AFL and Soccer will continue to cut its lunch. But that’s for another day. Ask yourself how many players you wouldn’t want showing up to take your daughter or granddaughter out. You’d set the hounds on to them.
357SmithNwesson
Guest
Hopefully he’ll draw attention to himself for all the right reasons this time .
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Will Cleary be the only half?
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I don’t know. Walker has had an impressive year. He wasn’t great tonight. Made is usual dropped ball with no one around him and even the last pass for the Allen try hit the ground when it should have hit Gagai in the gap. He still has question marks in big games for me. That said Whighton is good for 2 errors and 2 or 3 poor decisions a game as well and in Origin you can’t make errors. Whighton could be a centre, not sure where I would put Walker
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
I'm sure he was born Graham Campbell but there was a mix up on his birth certificate, so he was stuck with it. Same thing happened to James LeBron.
Paul
Roar Guru
I assume Campbell Graham was left out due to injury? Good to see Cody Walker not only being selected but acknowledged for his terrific season by Fiddler.