Sam Walker

[Big Dog]

I wouldn't blame Sammy for that. Toups cost us three tries tonight. Gifted two to the Storm and butchered one. On top of some lazy marker defence and Chricton's diabolical hands. But apparently that is Rooster's Footy according to the coach.

[roosterchook]

Too much attack cost us. The top teams don't play high risk footy inside their own 20m when they are leading the game deep into the 2nd half. That Angus dropped ball was pathetic.

That resulted in a try as did Walker’s kick in goal that gave them a 7 tackle set. Walker has now conceded 3 tries in 3 games in a row. In his current form he’s letting in a lot of tries. Angus shouldn’t be in 1st grade. He’s incompetent and unreliable. You can count on him to knock on 5 metres out from their line.

[roosterchook]

He just needs a few runs he’s been out for a year he will be ok it doesn’t matter we are not playing finals football this year anyway

I can cut him some slack but not for conceding a 7 tackle set which led directly to a Storm try. It’s his brain that’s injured to do that not his acl. The better team lost due to stupid decisions and multiple errors. Robbo’s fault he should have dropped Chrichton after his bad form. We honestly don’t need him.

[QWERTY]

Tried but he has just returned from a major injury and hasn’t had 3 different halves partners since his return.

[mightyrooster]

Cut the guy some slack. He’s been out for 12 months with an ACL. Sometimes this place needs to take a deep breath after a loss.

[Random Rooster]

I can cut him some slack but not for conceding a 7 tackle set which led directly to a Storm try. It’s his brain that’s injured to do that not his acl. The better team lost due to stupid decisions and multiple errors. Robbo’s fault he should have dropped Chrichton after his bad form. We honestly don’t need him.

Led directly to a Storm try? By kicking the ball over the deadball line? It was the wrong play, and you could see his reaction straight after—but the team still should’ve been good enough to reset and defend seven tackles over 75 metres.

If an Australian side were picked tomorrow, Angus Crichton would still be in the 17. His form since the Origin series has dipped below his usual standard, but calling for him to be dropped is ridiculous.

[Bansai Pipeline]

My feeling is that Walker is an incredibly talented player but not a dependable decision making half. He's three seasons in yet still errs to impulse and miracles. Not the grind and the game of chess.

Sammy is more Benji than Cooper in other words.

What's made that even more obvious to me is the emergence of Hugo Savala.

That kid is an ice cold psychopath who knows how to apply pressure and win. Can't recall him ever scoring a fancy individual try but good god did we seem composed when he was on the field. And that's more important. His composure is insane AND he's younger than Sam.

Basically I reckon Savala is the unexpected find.

I'd be more upset to lose him than Sam Walker.

Savala is the one.

[The Real King]

Tonight proved that bringing DCE next season is probably the right call.

Walker is still raw/green and needs on field guidance for a year + add to that he's still only a few games back and will take time to find his rhythm and get some consistent form. Next year will be better for him and the entire side.

It didn't prove it. It confirmed it. Everyone knows Sam does some stupid things every game, he just can't help himself.
His family demanded he be a million dollar player, but doesn't know how to play like a million dollar player.

[roostermcgregor]

Walker has not been the saviour everyone thought he would be once returning to first grade.
In my opinion it looked like he stifled the attack against the Storm - I thought he had us running in circles ( but then again , isn’t that the Rooster’s way?)
I guess I’ll watch the replay to pass final judgement.

Now that the finals are no longer an option I would love to see the Hugo/ Sandon combination given a couple of goes before the end of the season ( both more direct players) but I know it probably won’t happen.

I don’t really have anything against Sam , but by all accounts he hasn’t set the world on fire.

The Roosters we’re ordinary against the Storm - nearly all our tries came from kicks, our ruck defence near our line is diabolical , and we couldn’t beat them with 4 of their stars out and also Hughes in the second half.

The Roosters don’t deserve a semi final spot based on the last 2 weeks performances.

[MKCS]

It's hard to blame Walker, he's coming back from an ACL injury with a lot of pressure on him and now is also the leading half which he's never really been before aside from a few one off games. It's a shame that we aren't in a position to ease him back into the NRL by having him play 25-30 minutes off the bench for his first 4 weeks back instead he has the one game against the Dragons and then is immediately into two tough games against the Sharks and Storm.

As for long term, Bansai above is correct in that Walker is more Benji than Cronk which is fine, we just need to find someone very good in that role who can allow Walker to do his thing and just get creative.

[Vasco]

My feeling is that Walker is an incredibly talented player but not a dependable decision making half. He's three seasons in yet still errs to impulse and miracles. Not the grind and the game of chess.

Sammy is more Benji than Cooper in other words.

What's made that even more obvious to me is the emergence of Hugo Savala.

That kid is an ice cold psychopath who knows how to apply pressure and win. Can't recall him ever scoring a fancy individual try but good god did we seem composed when he was on the field. And that's more important. His composure is insane AND he's younger than Sam.

Basically I reckon Savala is the unexpected find.

I'd be more upset to lose him than Sam Walker.

Savala is the one.

Mate it's Walker's fifth season which makes it even more frustrating. His ball playing is very pedestrian and predictable at times, and he runs across field.

Hugo is the same age but obviously less experienced. You wouldn't know it by the calmness of his play.

[Vasco]

Tried but he has just returned from a major injury and hasn’t had 3 different halves partners since his return.

He's on the field so we can only judge what we can see.

[Rooster_6]

I agree with the general consensus of this thread that he's only 3 games into returning from almost a year out of the game and an ACL reconstruction. It's not like he's returning into a side he's been playing with either.. it's a very different makeup so there's not much continuity for him to fall back into.

I like the shift to the left edge, more traditionally Robinson has played his creator on the left edge (Maloney, Keary) and his more traditional organising half on the right edge (Pearce, Flanagan, Cronk).

With DCE, Savala and Rodwell falling more into that traditional halfback mould I think this move makes a lot of sense. I see Walker still being the primary playmaker in terms of touches but I can see the organisation of the side and long kicking being left up to the right edge half whoever that ends up being.

Overall in the long run this will add greater balance to our side, hopefully Savala is fit next week.

[Roosterfarian]

My feeling is that Walker is an incredibly talented player but not a dependable decision making half. He's three seasons in yet still errs to impulse and miracles. Not the grind and the game of chess.

Sammy is more Benji than Cooper in other words.

What's made that even more obvious to me is the emergence of Hugo Savala.

That kid is an ice cold psychopath who knows how to apply pressure and win. Can't recall him ever scoring a fancy individual try but good god did we seem composed when he was on the field. And that's more important. His composure is insane AND he's younger than Sam.

Basically I reckon Savala is the unexpected find.

I'd be more upset to lose him than Sam Walker.

Savala is the one.

Truer words have not been spoken.

You are bang on the money piper in all respects.

[bondi.boy]

Led directly to a Storm try? By kicking the ball over the deadball line? It was the wrong play, and you could see his reaction straight after—but the team still should’ve been good enough to reset and defend seven tackles over 75 metres.

If an Australian side were picked tomorrow, Angus Crichton would still be in the 17. His form since the Origin series has dipped below his usual standard, but calling for him to be dropped is ridiculous.

Dom got dropped.
Sandon got dropped.
Chad got dropped
...for "form not up to the required standard".
So therefore Gus should get dropped too.