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Error-prone Walker admits form must lift

3 minute read

If South Sydney are to recapture the form that carried them to last year's NRL grand final, star half Cody Walker admits he must improve his game.

CODY WALKER
CODY WALKER Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker admits he must lift his game if the Rabbitohs are to find their best form in the coming weeks.

While they've played competition heavyweights in Melbourne, Sydney and Penrith, Souths are struggling at 1-3 and must start reeling off some wins to feature again in the NRL's top four.

But Walker says that won't happen unless they can improve ball security, with his team currently last in the league in completion rate (69 per cent).

They top the charts with 14 errors per game and Walker is one of the main offenders, with he and Alex Johnstone each having made a team-high nine errors in their four games.

That sees them ranked fourth in individual errors through the season's first month.

"I need to pick my game up, it's not where I need it to be," Walker told reporters.

"One of the key areas in our game is completion rate and I haven't been too good at that over the last few weeks, I had two or three errors on the weekend.

"If every player gets to have one error, there's 17 errors in a game ... as a senior player I need to get that out of my game."

Part of Walker's struggle has been adapting to new combinations, with Lachlan Illias at halfback and Taane Milne at centre this season.

"There's a different left edge, different halfback, but we're continually working at training, continually doing extra work we need to do," Walker said.

"There's been glimpses over the first four rounds but I probably need to be more consistent with my footy to help (Lachie) out a little bit.

"Lachie's been pretty good and he's handled the pressure quite well."

Illias, 21, said he was slowly finding his first-grade feet and added the Bunnies' experienced stars were making life easier.

"I feel like I'm getting more confident each game," he said.

"It helps having Cooky (Damien Cook), Cody, Trell (Latrell Mitchell) all behind me and the pack that we have."

Souths host St George Illawarra on Saturday in a contest they're expected to win.

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