Walker steps up as Warriors look to create a new culture

Having said goodbye to 822 games of NRL experience during the off-season, the Warriors enter a new era in 2025 as they continue their search for an elusive maiden premiership.

With Shaun Johnson (268 games) and Tohu Harris (234) retired and Addin Fonua-Blake (182) and Jazz Tevaga (138) moving to other clubs, the leadership baton passes to the likes of four-time premiership winner James Fisher-Harris, favourite son Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and veteran utility Dylan Walker.

Entering his 13th season in the top grade, Walker has been there and won that, savouring premiership glory with the Rabbitohs as a 20-year-old in 2014.

Now 30 and with 229 games under his belt, Walker is ready to step up and help fill the void left by highly respected skipper Harris, who reluctantly called time on his career in January due to ongoing complications with a wrist injury.

“A lot of guys have moved on and that opens the door for a lot of new guys - we see it as an opportunity to create a culture that we want and then leave it behind with the younger guys who come through next,” Walker said.

“You go into a team environment you want to compete, you want to win, you want to elevate each other and push each other and get better and there’s no better way of doing that than training. 

“If you want to be a first-grader then you have to act and be it. You’ve got to instil that and practice it every day.”

Since arriving at Go Media Stadium from Manly in 2023, Walker has predominantly been used off the bench but he has also started games at five-eighth, lock and second row when required.

A decade ago he collected a grand final winner’s ring playing centre for Souths, scoring 12 tries in 24 matches and sharing a career-defining moment with the likes of Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess, Adam Reynolds and Alex Johnston.

Regardless of the number on his jersey in 2025, Walker has vowed to fight every day to be worthy of a spot in Andrew Webster’s best 17.

“I always had respect for the jersey first before the player and whoever is the best man for the job is going to fill the role,” he said.

“You’ve got to lock in, you’ve got to do everything you can to not give up your jersey and that’s healthy ego.

“Winning starts on Monday morning when you roll in from the weekend and winning doesn’t stop when you leave these doors.

“It’s decisions you make outside of football. I’ve had to learn that the hard way. I want to continue to build something where young guys can look and say, ‘OK he’s had a rough patch but he has come through’. I really want to lead in that way.”