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Angus Crichton has backed Sydney Roosters teammate Sam Walker to handle the defensive rigours of State of Origin if the halfback is handed a first Queensland jersey by Maroons coach Billy Slater.
The 23-year-old is in contention for a senior interstate debut at Accor Stadium with Tom Dearden sidelined by an ankle injury.
Slater will finalise his squad after Magic Round in Brisbane on Sunday night and the vacant No.7 jumper appears to be a three-way contest between Walker, veteran Roosters teammate and former Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and New Zealand Warriors revelation Tanah Boyd.
Walker has impressed as the Roosters have risen to third on the premiership ladder heading into their game against North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. Crichton dismissed any suggestion the playmaker’s defence is not up to the level required in Origin.
“I think at the start of his career that would probably be a fair assessment, but I think at the minute he’s stepping in and he’s doing a really good job,” said Crichton, speaking alongside Walker at the launch of this weekend’s Beer, Footy, Food Festival at North Sydney Oval.
“As a half, you get so much traffic sent at you, so there’s going to be times when you’re going to make mistakes, but that’s when your teammates are there to help you and support you.
“Defending alongside him, I can vouch for him. He’s a solid defender and he works really hard for his teammates.”
The rugby-bound back-rower will be running at his club colleague if, as expected, he is included in Laurie Daley’s NSW side and Walker gets the nod from Slater.
Former Queensland forward Corey Parker raised questions about Walker’s defence after he misread a play near his own line last Friday that resulted in a try for the Gold Coast Titans.
According to NRL statistics Walker has missed 25 tackles in nine games this season, but there are 39 players with a higher count, among them Boyd, with 32, and fellow Queensland selection candidate Ezra Mam, who tops the list with 48.
“I think my game is definitely progressing in a really positive way and I’m feeling really, really confident in my footy at the moment,” Walker said.
“It’s out of my control, but I know if the call came I’d be ready.”
Walker previously spent time in Slater’s extended squad before the deciding match of the 2022 series to gain experience.
Walker’s uncle Chris made six appearances on the wing for Queensland in the early 2000s. He scored four tries in the 2001 series, which is best known for Allan Langer’s return from England to lead the Maroons to victory in game three.
Chris Walker’s Origin career was also remembered for NSW trainer Nathan Brown’s “Walker’s on!” warning to the Blues when he came off the bench for game one of the 2002 series in Sydney.
Walker was born exactly a month after that clash so his Origin heroes arrived later.
“Jonathan Thurston was always special … I definitely looked up to him a fair bit,” he said.
“Then I think ‘GI’ [Greg Inglis] and those sorts of players. As a Queenslander, they had such an impact on your childhood as a whole there. I definitely looked up to them.”
Meanwhile, Queensland playmaker Cameron Munster says he has full faith in coach Billy Slater to find the right replacement for Dearden.
“Whoever Bill picks,” Munster said on Wednesday when asked who is the right man for the job.
“He’s been in the game a long time and knows what rugby league is all about. He watches games religiously, more than anyone I’ve ever seen.
“He’ll pick the right people.”
Munster has struggled in recent weeks as his Melbourne Storm lost seven straight games, but he roared back into form with two tries in the Storm’s 44-16 win over Wests Tigers on Sunday.
He said the win was especially important for coach Craig Bellamy who was recently diagnosed with a form of neurodegenerative disorder.
“It boosts everyone up with a win, especially the old fella as well,” Munster said. “It’s not a morgue in there anymore, it’s been pretty good, so hopefully we can stay away from those morgues.”
Munster wants to back up that performance with another strong display against Parramatta at Magic Round in Brisbane this Saturday.
“I’m the hardest critic of myself and I know that my performances haven’t been up to scratch,” he said.
“I can only control my performances, I can’t rely on the coaches or selectors to say that because he’s played Origin for the last 10 years, he will get picked. I just have to come out and play confident footy.”
On Bellamy, Munster said he wouldn’t be changing how he interacted with the legendary coach who plans to remain in the role for the rest of 2026.
“It’s hard to get a conversation out of Bellyache,” Munster said.
“He’s stubborn. He’s one of those hard, blue-collar guys who you ask how he is going and he says “I’m fine”.
“He doesn’t give you much. I just leave him alone as you’d just end up in an argument with him. I love him, we are all behind him and we still believe in him. He’s still got so much to give rugby league.
“He’s our coach. He’s forever a Melbourne Storm coach, he’s go down as one of the best and whatever he decides to do, that’s his decision and I’m sure he will make the right one.”
