The genius of new NSW five-eighth Cody Walker today can be traced back to the philosophies of the Gold Coast school he attended as a teenager, where his scintillating skills were given free rein to flourish.
The 33-year-old playmaker will showcase his sublime array of tricks for the Blues in game three of the State of Origin series in Sydney on Wednesday night with a nod to Indigenous wizards of the past such as Cliff Lyons and Ewan McGrady.
It was at Palm Beach Currumbin (PBC) High where Walker was given freedom of expression as a teenager.
Aaron Zimmerle, who coached the PBC side to the national schoolboy title in 2018, was a trainer for the 2008 side that won the national schoolboy final with Walker as half.
"PBC is renowned for playing skill-based football so when Cody moved up from Casino he came to the right school because there were no shackles on him," Zimmerle told AAP.
"Rod Patison was our foundation coach and promoted backing your skill. Cody was able to showcase his heads-up football ... and thrived.
"He had the same ability he shows at Souths to create something out of nothing. He would always push up hard in support so the half-chance became something more. He had the whole array of skill – ridiculous passes, flicks, grubbers, chip kicks. Nothing has changed. He just does it now against the best in the game."
PBC has produced an array of NRL halves such as Toby Sexton, Tom Dearden, Jamal Fogarty, Jahrome Hughes and Jordan Rankin.
Zimmerle said Walker was unique in that he had "270 degree vision" which enabled him to see peripherally and react to any situation.
"There is no process to the thinking," he said.
"If it is on ... it is thrown or kicked. It his sleight of hand and speed of hand that makes him so exceptional. When other players are catching and passing ... Cody has already released the ball.
"The ball has beaten you because he saw the space and knew he had to get it there. That is what makes it so exciting for the players that have to play off the back of it because he gives them time and an advantage.
"I hope NSW put a structure around him where he is given the reins and not hampered. I hope Cody goes really well but I am a Queenslander so not quite well enough to win the game."
Zimmerle said Walker was the "ultimate competitor" at school who would do anything to win. Nothing has changed there either.
"Cody is a wonderful guy when he walks off the field and has all the time in the world for you. On the field he plays angry and with a chip on his shoulder ... and that’s what makes him good," he said.
"If you speak to Cody he says that having his young family made him finally realise he needed to make the most of his career. He’s certainly done that."
