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The one person enjoying Sam Walker’s breakout Origin performances less than Blues coach Laurie Daley might just be Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis.
Walker is a free agent on November 1, and his stocks rocketed to new highs following his man-of-the-match performance for Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night.
The 24-year-old has flourished at the Roosters since making his debut six seasons ago, but is yet to sit down with the club to discuss what happens beyond 2027.
The Roosters have already signed Hugo Savala and Toby Rodwell until the end of 2028, while another playmaker, Daly Cherry-Evans, has an option in his favour for 2027, but will take his time before deciding on his future.
Should NSW and Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary also go to the open market, there will be no shortage of clubs queuing up for his and Walker’s services.
Walker’s next deal could be up to $1.5 million a season on the back of what is expected to be a larger NRL broadcast deal. The Roosters also have to set money aside for skipper James Tedesco should he choose to play on after next year.
When asked about his market value soaring on the back of his Origin efforts, Walker said: “I haven’t had a single thought about it. I’ve still got a fair bit of time left at the Roosters and, fingers crossed, longer.”
Maroons and Roosters prop Lindsay Collins has been impressed by how easily Walker has adjusted to representative football, and hopes he will ultimately become a “Rooster for life”.
“When you come to this level of football, then you take it on the way he’s taken it on, and the maturity he’s shown, rep football makes you a better player, if you can handle it,” Collins said.
“There are some people that can’t handle it. But he does, and it will continue to make him a better player.
“He’s come up through the Roosters system, and been there since he was a kid. He’s also built a good life for himself [in Sydney] with his partner [Bella]. I’d love to see him become a Rooster for life.”
No moment summed up Walker’s brilliance against the Blues at the MCG better than his no-look pass to Kalyn Ponga that led to a Selwyn Cobbo try in the second half.
“I back my skill a fair bit, and I was lucky it came off – ‘KP’ is a freak of a footballer, and I knew if I threw it up there, he’d end up catching it,” Walker said.
“I heard his voice, so you trust your pass, and the reps you do with him. It was nice it paid off.
“I’m pretty confident in my footy at the moment. I feel like I’ve been playing really good footy in club land, and the coaching staff and players here at Queensland they allow you to play with so much confidence and freedom.”
Maroons halves partner Cam Munster said of Walker: “He’s never overawed by the big moments, he’s very calm under pressure, and the way he played that ball to ‘KP’, when he had everyone jamming in on him, but he got the ball away [was impressive].
“Has there ever been a bloke win the Wally Lewis Medal [for the Origin player of the series] in his debut series?”
For the record, Pat Carrigan won Origin’s top individual award as a representative rookie in 2022.
Ponga added about Walker: “He’s such a busy person – even in game one, he was in every moment … it’s a privilege to play with Sammy and to learn from him. For such a young fella, he backs himself.”
Another Roosters player involved in Wednesday’s contest, NSW winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, commended Walker for the way he steered the Maroons around the park while Munster underwent a head injury assessment in the first half.
Angry Roosters kiss and make up
The “mate versus mate” Origin catchphrase was on full display at the MCG when Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley exchanged pleasantries after Radley was penalised for a high shot on Trent Loiero on Wednesday night. At one stage, it appeared Radley grabbed at Collins’ nose as teammates tried to separate them.
In the second half, Collins then pushed for a captain’s challenge after he claimed Reece Robson, another Roosters teammate, had forced the ball loose as a result of an illegal shoulder charge.
Another Roosters player, Mark Nawaqanitawase, joked: “Lindsay might actually hate us”.
“We’re brothers and play for the same team, but that’s Origin – it doesn’t matter who you play for in club land, it’s mate versus mate,” Naqanitawase said.
Collins said of the heated exchange: “Trent is my teammate at the moment. I’ve got this [Queensland] jersey on, so I look after my boys in the jersey. I do the same at club level.
“[As for Robson] I challenged the strip, but was hoping for [a penalty] for the shoulder charge. That’s probably why front-rowers shouldn’t challenge decisions.”
One of the forgotten stories on Wednesday was prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who played with a heavy heart following the weekend death of his father, Fereti.
“The last few days have been a blur, but before he passed, my dad said, ‘No matter what happens son, you make sure you turn up for your team, and you play hard’,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
