Souths star Cody Walker lifts the lid on what REALLY happened with Sam Burgess’s bitter split with the club – as Bunnies boss takes a shot at the English great

Souths superstar Cody Walker has broken his silence about being at the center of the rift that saw club icon Sam Burgess walk away last season following claims Walker and Latrell Mitchell received preferential treatment.

Burgess left the Rabbitohs with immediate effect in August last year as the club battled to keep their poor season alive.

It came after allegations that coach Jason Demetriou had divided the team by showing preferential treatment to two of the team’s biggest stars, Mitchell and Walker.

A crisis meeting was held which was reportedly attended by Hollywood star Russell Crowe – although the club denied his involvement – before Burgess left the club’s headquarters with his pregnant partner and did not return.

Burgess (pictured at Souths training) claimed Walker and Mitchell were given preferential treatment before leaving the club in a bombing

Demetriou retained his post despite the allegations and South Sydney crashing out of the finals late in the season after leading the league midway through the season.

He later issued the following statement: “I have, in the circumstances, made the decision to resign from South Sydney. My immediate focus is on the birth of our baby and preparing for my new role at Warrington.”

The clash with Burgess was the last thing the Rabbitohs needed as they went from early-season premiership fantasies to making it out of the finals altogether, despite being first on the ladder midway through the season.

Walker now says last August’s outburst has damaged his trust with everyone and everything at the club.

“I still don’t know what to believe,” he told the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.

Walker said claims of preferential treatment confused him and he confronted Demetriou about it to get clarity.

“I’m still not sure what that actually meant,” he said of the claims.

‘I personally spoke to JD (Demetriou) about it straight away. I said, “Is this happening? Do you have that feeling?” I said, “I wouldn’t want to be in a club if that ever happened.”

However, Walker is not pretending that everything was rosy at Redfern last season.

The sometimes volatile half plays the game with its heart on its sleeve and admits that there are sometimes tense moments during training.

But he denied ever leaving training, another accusation he made last season.

“There are times at the training park where I get the sh**s,” Walker said.

‘But I’m not skipping training. I never complete the training.

‘There are times when I am completely confused during training and say what needs to be said. If someone isn’t doing their job, I have the right to tell people, right? My job is as a senior playmaker in the team. To say I leave training and do all that stuff, I’ve never really done that before.

“It’s just crazy to think anyone could do that. Everyone knows I’m vocal and lively. That’s me wanting to win. I hate losing. I can’t stand to lose. I’m one of those guys who says if someone isn’t doing their job well on the team.’

Demetriou also denied claims of preferential treatment.

“The sense of entitlement or that people get special treatment or get away with things never made sense in my mind,” he said.

Club boss Blake Solly was stunned by Burgess’ comments and fired a shot at the departed superstar, who was often in the news for controversial reasons during his time with the team.

“An accusation from Sam about special treatment, given the support we always gave Sam, felt a little strange,” he said.

“We have supported Sam through more challenges in his playing career and personal life than anyone else who has been involved with our club.

“He should know better than anyone the support we provide to our players and staff.”

Demetriou has also denied any claims of preferential treatment towards Walker and Mitchell

Walker has praised Mitchell’s mental strength, who has withstood plenty of criticism

Walker also spoke highly of Mitchell and how he has dealt with the constant criticism he receives from the media and from the NRL audience on social media.

“It just amazes me how mentally tough he is,” Walker said.

‘What willpower he has. How strong he is at such a young age. He’s 27 now and I was only two years into my NRL career at that age.

‘I could never handle the level of criticism he is under. By now I would have had enough of the amount of criticism he has in society, let alone within the football world.’

Mitchell himself wants to distance himself from what happened last season.

‘We’ll just leave it be, mate. We don’t dwell on the past,” Mitchell said.

“We put the team first and put each other first, that’s all that matters. I’m around good people and I love life. My friends are good. They just want me to show up and be myself, and they let me be that. I get to do that, and I’m very grateful.

‘You have to move on, otherwise you get stuck with things that happen in the media and what not. It just consumes you.”