NSW five-eighth Cody Walker has revealed he quit alcohol this season in a bid to discover the career-best form that has catapulted him into a State of Origin debut.
With his focus squarely on game one of the series in Brisbane next Wednesday, the 29-year-old South Sydney playmaker was a notable absentee from the Blues' bonding session on Tuesday night, having made a decision in round two to give up the booze.
Sacrifice: Cody Walker is intent on getting the best out of himself as he prepares for a State of Origin debut.Credit:Cole Bennett
"My manager brought it up it and I said, 'yeah I agree with you'," Walker told the Herald. "A couple of the boys were going 'what are you doing that for?' I've just said, 'I can't control myself when I have one or two', so why have one or two?"
Walker said his partner Nellie Bell "laughed" when he told her of the decision.
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"She didn't think I'd be able to," he said. "I just thought it was just a time where I needed to just make a couple of sacrifices and start playing my best footy."
As a man who "likes to have a beer", Walker also wanted to spend more time with his two children and avoid concerns of being over the limit when driving to junior footy games on a weekend.
"I feel pretty good not being on the drink … I feel a lot clearer waking up on the weekends, and it's been good for the bank balance too I must add," he said.
Walker said it had been "hard" to say no when offered a beer by his teammates, with Blues and Souths players mostly unaware of his recent decision not to drink.
"It's not something that I tell everyone, it's just something I've done," he said. "(When teammates) are sitting in the sheds after a game and having a beer after a win … that's probably the hardest time."
Breaking his sobriety momentarily with two celebratiory beers after his Origin selection, Walker said he wouldn't be joining in post-game revelry in the event of a Blues victory in Brisbane next week. He "might" have a quiet beer with his family if NSW are victorious, however, he said.
While Walker was looking sharp during Thursday's Blues training session, he admitted the week had been tiring.
“Sunday was a big night,” he said. “You know I really didnt get back to the hotel until 11.30am or 12am or something aRead More – Source
NSW five-eighth Cody Walker has revealed he quit alcohol this season in a bid to discover the career-best form that has catapulted him into a State of Origin debut.
With his focus squarely on game one of the series in Brisbane next Wednesday, the 29-year-old South Sydney playmaker was a notable absentee from the Blues' bonding session on Tuesday night, having made a decision in round two to give up the booze.
Sacrifice: Cody Walker is intent on getting the best out of himself as he prepares for a State of Origin debut.Credit:Cole Bennett
"My manager brought it up it and I said, 'yeah I agree with you'," Walker told the Herald. "A couple of the boys were going 'what are you doing that for?' I've just said, 'I can't control myself when I have one or two', so why have one or two?"
Walker said his partner Nellie Bell "laughed" when he told her of the decision.
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"She didn't think I'd be able to," he said. "I just thought it was just a time where I needed to just make a couple of sacrifices and start playing my best footy."
As a man who "likes to have a beer", Walker also wanted to spend more time with his two children and avoid concerns of being over the limit when driving to junior footy games on a weekend.
"I feel pretty good not being on the drink … I feel a lot clearer waking up on the weekends, and it's been good for the bank balance too I must add," he said.
Walker said it had been "hard" to say no when offered a beer by his teammates, with Blues and Souths players mostly unaware of his recent decision not to drink.
"It's not something that I tell everyone, it's just something I've done," he said. "(When teammates) are sitting in the sheds after a game and having a beer after a win … that's probably the hardest time."
Breaking his sobriety momentarily with two celebratiory beers after his Origin selection, Walker said he wouldn't be joining in post-game revelry in the event of a Blues victory in Brisbane next week. He "might" have a quiet beer with his family if NSW are victorious, however, he said.
While Walker was looking sharp during Thursday's Blues training session, he admitted the week had been tiring.
“Sunday was a big night,” he said. “You know I really didnt get back to the hotel until 11.30am or 12am or something aRead More – Source
