Cody Walker’s show-stopping performance has the five-eighth “knocking on the door” of Brad Fittler’s Blues as South Sydney showed they’re more than capable of claiming a premiership without their talisman Greg Inglis, says NRL legend Darren Lockyer.

Walker was arguably the standout performer of Round 5 as he bagged a ridiculous four-try haul and an assist to boot in the Souths near-impossible 16-point comeback against a red-hot Warriors outfit on the Sunshine Coast.

Conjecture only is only growing over NSW’s play-making jerseys, with Panthers duo Nathan Cleary and James Maloney failing to back up their impressive 2018 seasons amid the weekly masterclass of Roosters’ star Luke Keary. But Saturday’s performance has Walker boldly casting his name into the selection hat as State of Origin fast approaches says Lockyer.

 “He’s knocking on the door for representative honours with the form he’s got at the moment,” Lockyer told Wide World of Sports.

“Four tries, and there was a real variety in his game. The fifth try he actually gave the last pass too, so he’s had a day out.”

Jillaroos great Ruan Sims doubled down on Lockyer’s call and was in awe of the late bloomer who only made his NRL debut three-years-ago.

“He was absolutely electric,” she said.

“He was into everything; he was pushing up when he needed to be and there were a couple of tries where he had no right to score them and he just got there.”

At the other end of the spectrum, an ailing body is causing teammate and Rabbitohs talisman Greg Inglis to face the very real prospect of an early curtain call on his glistening career.

While Redfern would indeed weep without the heart of its team on the pitch, Lockyer believed Saturday’s display proved the franchise have what it takes to go all the in lieu of the former Maroons captain.

“I still think Souths can win a premiership without him,” Lockyer said.

Sims conceded that while Souths were better “having him there” the depth of the current roster would allow Wayne Bennett to navigate around the loss.

“They are better having him there however at the same time, you know, they have been playing some really good football, so I think they can still do it without him,” she said.

Inglis is expected to make a call on his NRL future on Monday morning.