'He reminds me of Cliffy': Alexander

Westpac NSW Blues mentors Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander have praised the skills of South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker with comparisons made to two-time Dally M winner Cliff Lyons.

“My thoughts on Cody is that he’s up there with the best in terms of time with the ball, making things slow down and see what’s on offer for those around him … you don’t get much better than Cody,” Alexander told media on Friday before the NSW team went through their paces at NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence ahead of Origin III next Wednesday at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

“Cody is just a great player. He’s one of the best ball-players I think we’ve seen in the history of the game.

“I can’t go back any further than the early 80s … but Cody reminds me so much of Cliffy with his time with the ball and you can see that in training.”

Walker will play his fifth Origin game next week after being recalled to the side since his last game for the Blues in Game Three 2020.

Fittler said age meant nothing to 33-year-old Walker, who will pair with 27-year-old Mitchell Moses at halfback.

“There’s an excitement when he gets to training. He doesn’t look like an old bloke,” Fittler said.

“And he’s sharp – he’s very sharp. And he’s fit – as fit as he’s ever been and that’s the best indicator ever.”

Manly Warringah premiership winner and True Blue Lyons terrorised oppositions and used his combination with teammate Steve Menzies to great effect.

“He (Walker) does have some good combinations with his boys like (Blake) Taaffe, Latrell (Mitchell) and Keaon (Koloamatangi),” Fittler said of Walker’s Rabbitohs teammates. Koloamatangi will make his NSW Blues debut in Game Three.

“(Cody) makes it look so easy – he has a lot of time … more than everyone else. He’s thrown some passes I’ve never seen before.”

Walker and Moses are the third Blues halves pairing for the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series.

“They are two experienced players so that helps,” Fittler said.

“They’ve played Origin before, they’ve played in Grand Finals before, and the way they play at their clubs they sort of dominate one side of the field.”

Fittler said his message to the duo ahead of Origin III has been simple.

“To win – I don’t care, as long they win.”