Dylan Walker was reminded within minutes of Manly’s impressive win over Cronulla how desperate South Sydney would be to bounce back against them in Friday’s NRL semi-final.

A former premiership-winner with the Rabbitohs in 2014, Walker remains close to a number of current and former Souths players.

He watched on closely as they were flogged 30-6 by the Sydney Roosters in their qualifying final on Friday night, their worst loss of the season.

So he was well aware of how desperate Souths will be in Friday’s sudden-death clash at ANZ Stadium.

But on Saturday night he got a reminder anyway, among the first messages he saw when he opened his phone in the sheds following Manly’s 28-16 eliminational final win over Cronulla.

“I’m in a group chat with a few of them, the older ones (and some who have also left),” Walker said.”

“There is a bit of banter in there saying that they’re going to beat Manly.

“I don’t know if they know they’ve got me in the group.

“Just ‘oh yeah boys, Manly next week, win that. Then Canberra in the next week. It’s an easy home’.”

Walker, for his part, will likely adopt a Des Hasler-like approach to the chat with Souths players this week.

“I’m probably just going to fly under cover … Keep it under wraps (that I’m there),” he said.

“Mute the group chat for a bit.”

Manly’s and Souths’ performances in the first week of the finals were polar opposites.

Sea Eagles coach Hasler hailed Saturday night’s victory as among the great backs-to-the-wall wins in the club’s history, as they did it with several big names sidelined.

Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans controlled the game in the halves, while Addin Fonua-Blake led a desperately undermanned forward pack to overpower Cronulla in the middle.

The Rabbitohs meanwhile barely let themselves into the game against the Roosters on Friday night, but at least get Sam Burgess back for this week’s clash.

“You couldn’t say anything about their performance (on Friday night), it was probably sub-par,” Walker said.

“But knowing a lot of them boys, especially getting Sammy back, they’re going to be really riled up and ready to go this week.

“They’re going to be up for the challenge and we have to be up for it as well.”