Sam Walker solely has 55 minutes of finals footy beneath his belt, however the star Roosters playmaker is the person who can dominate September because the Tricolours gear up for his or her very unlikely premiership cost.
Key factors:
- Roosters halfback Sam Walker was benched in final 12 months’s finals
- The younger playmaker has vastly improved in his second season within the league
- The Roosters face a sudden-death finals conflict with the Rabbitohs
The reigning rookie of the 12 months, Walker shortly grew to become one of many membership’s key attacking gamers after making his debut early in 2021, however was benched within the lead-up to the semi-finals.
Throughout the Roosters’ two finals matches, Walker performed simply 55 minutes, together with simply 9 within the week one victory over the Titans the place he kicked the profitable area aim.
This time round, Walker helps run the present and with the Roosters enjoying like they consider they’ll grow to be simply the third group ever to win the competitors from exterior the highest 4, he’s set to take the finals by storm.
Crucially, Walker doesn’t simply have among the most interesting attacking instincts of any halfback within the league, he has the braveness to observe them – working example was his sharp attempt towards South Sydney in final week’s victory on the new Sydney Soccer Stadium.
“If I begin doubting myself, there is no level doing it. It’s a must to again your self. I’ve made a mistake doing it a few instances and I am nonetheless looking for that stability between the fitting play on the proper time,” Walker stated.
“[Coach Trent Robinson] simply lets me play instinctive footy if I really feel that area there. I’ve finished it a good few instances the place it hasn’t paid off, however he is saved his religion in me and this time it paid off.
“In the event that they pop up, they pop up. I am all the time searching for these alternatives.
“It is simply intuition, I have been doing since I used to be a child – in the event you see the fullback come up, there’s going to be area there.”
It has been a strong sophomore season for Walker, who has managed to keep away from the dreaded second-season syndrome that plagues so many rookie sensations.
His mixture with Luke Keary has caught fireplace for the reason that two swapped positions, with Walker reclaiming the halfback jersey, and introduced the Tricolours’ ailing premiership cost again to life up to now eight weeks.
“Bodily, I am a bit higher. I obtained a preseason beneath my belt and my shoulders have held up fairly nicely, which is nice, and I really feel a bit larger and stronger,” Walker stated.
“Kez [Keary] is in career-best kind in the intervening time, he is enjoying unbelievable footy and I am simply frightened about doing my job nicely as a result of he actually dominates video games for us.”
With star centre Joseph Manu set to overlook the remainder of the season with a torn calf, the Roosters will likely be counting on Walker and Keary greater than ever in Sunday’s rematch with the Rabbitohs.
It’s a severe blow to the membership’s premiership aspirations, which have come into clear focus after they completed the season with eight straight wins, together with final week’s win over their outdated rivals.
