A South Sydney official had to hold back a fired-up Cody Walker during a heated post-match exchange with a Penrith trainer following Saturday night’s heartbreaking loss to the reigning champions.
Walker launched a verbal tirade at Panthers head physiotherapist Pete Green in the aftermath of his side’s 32-12 loss at Accor Stadium, which ended the Rabbitohs’ season.
The situation had to be defused by Walker’s teammates Cameron Murray and Davvy Moale, as well as South Sydney chief operating officer Brock Schaefer.
Green was later escorted from the field by fellow Penrith officials, who watched the incident unfold from afar.
Nine News captured vision of the argument, which will be aired on Sunday night. The Herald can reveal that Walker was irate with Green over an incident late in the game.
The Panthers believe the innocuous incident occurred when Green attended to fullback Dylan Edwards following a tackle from his former Panthers teammate Jed Cartwright in the 69th minute.
Cody Walker abuses Panthers trainer Pete Green after the game.Credit:Nine News
Cartwright then approached Green to discuss the matter after the game, before Walker injected himself into the conversation and launched the verbal attack on the Panthers trainer.
When approached for comment after the game, Walker declined to discuss the matter. The NRL says no official complaint was lodged.
Animosity between the two sides escalated leading into last year’s finals series when coaches Wayne Bennett and Ivan Cleary traded verbal barbs over the treatment of Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.
It was the Panthers who had the last laugh when they knocked over the Bunnies to collect last year’s premiership despite going down to South Sydney in the opening weekend of the finals series.
An exchange between Dylan Edwards, Jed Cartwright and trainer Pete Green was the trigger for Cody Walker’s post-match spray.Credit:Nine
The Rabbitohs have once again been bundled out at the hands of the Panthers, with tension between the two sides now at boiling point following Taane Milne’s cheap shot on Spencer Leniu which saw him sent off for the final 17 minutes of the game.
The exchange between Walker and Green is just the latest chapter in a growing list of grievances between the two sides.
