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South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker triggered Sunday’s bizarre halftime incident with Lachlan Lewis by telling the Bulldogs five-eighth: “Go to back to reserve grade.”
The taunt infuriated Lewis, who tackled Walker to the ground as players left the field, causing a melee which resulted in the Bulldogs half being sin-binned.
Lewis was cited by the NRL match review committee for contrary conduct on Monday and faces a fine of $1600 with an early plea or $2400 if he fights the charge and loses.
Multiple well-placed sources alleged Walker used colourful language to tell Lewis, in no uncertain terms, to “go back to reserve grade”.
Cody Walker has words with Lachlan Lewis before they tussle.
The sledge refers to Lewis having played four NRL matches this season and five NSW Cup games for Mounties.
It was a pointed barb with Lewis, who is only 24, off-contract at the end of this season and without a deal for 2022.
With NSW Cup currently suspended due to Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak, Lewis is unable to go back to reserve grade, although Sydney NRL clubs are seeking to have players join Queensland Cup sides.
The incident came at halftime, after Souths tried to run an audacious last-second play, where Walker was brought to ground by Canterbury duo Will Hopoate and Nick Meaney.
Lewis rushed in to help his Bulldogs teammates to their feet, when Walker looked up and directed an inaudible spray in his direction.
As Lewis headed for the dressing room, he gave Walker a tap on the backside to which the Rabbitohs No.6 took issue, turned and gave Lewis another verballing.
It was at that point when Lewis took Walker down.
Lachlan Lewis takes Cody Walker down. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Lewis is likely to bump into Walker over coming weeks with the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs in the Mercure Gold Coast hub, along with the Eels, Raiders and Warriors.
Canterbury management denied a request for Lewis to be interviewed with club CEO Aaron Warburton claiming the exchange was “friendly banter on the field” and the club “didn’t want to give this any more airtime, with respect.”
Walker sidestepped questions about the heated moment immediately after the game when Fox Sports’ Matty Johns asked him: “What the hell was going on with Lachlan Lewis?”
“I don’t know man, I wouldn’t have a clue,” Walker said. ”He just said then … whatever. It’s in the past. What happens on the footy field stays on there.”
The NRL made discreet inquiries into the matter to ensure any on-field comments didn’t contravene the game’s anti-vilification code.
The match review committee was planning to listen to the on-field audio during the moment leading up to the incident.
The incident sparked a melee after the halftime siren sounded.
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly was unaware of the on-field comment but described Walker and Lewis as “cheeky buggers.”
Lewis’ famous uncle, Wally, was surprised at his nephew’s on-field behaviour.
“Why did he do it? I’ve got no idea,” Wally said. “It was very unusual. I don’t know what was said.”
Lewis’ manager Luke Lombardi said his client’s reaction was “out of character.”
During commentary on Fox Sports, Panthers great Greg Alexander, after witnessing Lewis tackle Walker, said: “That’s one of the craziest things I’ve seen in a long time.”
At the post-game media conference, Canterbury coach Trent Barrett was left to explain why his playmaker was dragged into such an unusual moment.
“Obviously something’s happened for him to react like that. And it hurt us – they scored a try and kicked a penalty goal while he was on the field,” Barrett said.
“It was disappointing, but that wasn’t the reason we lost the game. We had our chances to win it.”
The taunt infuriated Lewis, who tackled Walker to the ground as players left the field, causing a melee which resulted in the Bulldogs half being sin-binned.
Lewis was cited by the NRL match review committee for contrary conduct on Monday and faces a fine of $1600 with an early plea or $2400 if he fights the charge and loses.
Multiple well-placed sources alleged Walker used colourful language to tell Lewis, in no uncertain terms, to “go back to reserve grade”.
Cody Walker has words with Lachlan Lewis before they tussle.
The sledge refers to Lewis having played four NRL matches this season and five NSW Cup games for Mounties.
It was a pointed barb with Lewis, who is only 24, off-contract at the end of this season and without a deal for 2022.
With NSW Cup currently suspended due to Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak, Lewis is unable to go back to reserve grade, although Sydney NRL clubs are seeking to have players join Queensland Cup sides.
The incident came at halftime, after Souths tried to run an audacious last-second play, where Walker was brought to ground by Canterbury duo Will Hopoate and Nick Meaney.
Lewis rushed in to help his Bulldogs teammates to their feet, when Walker looked up and directed an inaudible spray in his direction.
As Lewis headed for the dressing room, he gave Walker a tap on the backside to which the Rabbitohs No.6 took issue, turned and gave Lewis another verballing.
It was at that point when Lewis took Walker down.
Lachlan Lewis takes Cody Walker down. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Lewis is likely to bump into Walker over coming weeks with the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs in the Mercure Gold Coast hub, along with the Eels, Raiders and Warriors.
Canterbury management denied a request for Lewis to be interviewed with club CEO Aaron Warburton claiming the exchange was “friendly banter on the field” and the club “didn’t want to give this any more airtime, with respect.”
Walker sidestepped questions about the heated moment immediately after the game when Fox Sports’ Matty Johns asked him: “What the hell was going on with Lachlan Lewis?”
“I don’t know man, I wouldn’t have a clue,” Walker said. ”He just said then … whatever. It’s in the past. What happens on the footy field stays on there.”
The NRL made discreet inquiries into the matter to ensure any on-field comments didn’t contravene the game’s anti-vilification code.
The match review committee was planning to listen to the on-field audio during the moment leading up to the incident.
The incident sparked a melee after the halftime siren sounded.
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly was unaware of the on-field comment but described Walker and Lewis as “cheeky buggers.”
Lewis’ famous uncle, Wally, was surprised at his nephew’s on-field behaviour.
“Why did he do it? I’ve got no idea,” Wally said. “It was very unusual. I don’t know what was said.”
Lewis’ manager Luke Lombardi said his client’s reaction was “out of character.”
During commentary on Fox Sports, Panthers great Greg Alexander, after witnessing Lewis tackle Walker, said: “That’s one of the craziest things I’ve seen in a long time.”
At the post-game media conference, Canterbury coach Trent Barrett was left to explain why his playmaker was dragged into such an unusual moment.
“Obviously something’s happened for him to react like that. And it hurt us – they scored a try and kicked a penalty goal while he was on the field,” Barrett said.
“It was disappointing, but that wasn’t the reason we lost the game. We had our chances to win it.”
