Sam Walker

[Vasco]

Not much has been said about his performance against the Sharks. I thought it really stank.

I love his ad-lib style, and he's great to watch when confidence is high and he's setting up or scoring tries.

Sure, he'd come off a long injury layoff but in previous games he was on fire.

I'm concerned that if Walker is having an off game we will struggle to score points. When your forwards are dominating there’s no excuses not to create. I accept that he's unlikely ever going to be a game management type of halfback.

trewhella rightly pointed out that Savala's strengths could also be his weaknesses. His style compliments Walker but I'm hoping his running game improves as we will need more from him in 2026.

[Andrew Walker]

At the game I thought he had an injury

[caz]

a lot was said about him. he copped a lot of flak on here. yes, he overhit a couple of bombs and underhit one but things don't always go your way. he set up gus with a beautiful grubber for a try.
the sharks defended pretty well, staying in the line, and sammy wasn't able to find many gaps but that's as much to do with his runners as with him.
sammy's a freak. everything he tries won't come off but he'll win you more games than he loses

[The Real King]

Walker and Clinton Schifcofske held the club to ransom demanding a $1m contract or they’d walk.

Next year Sam will be paid more than Teddy, who now has two Dally M’s.

I just don’t get it. Sure, he does some freakish things, but he doesn’t really understand the game.
He gets a free run in the media, no one ever questions his game. Other million-dollar players like Hynes and Ponga get hammered, but Sam plays poorly and nothing is said.

Alan Langer was 30 years ago, it’s a different game now. We need a halfback who’s a halfback, um like DCE or Toby Rodwell.

[mightyrooster]

He had a quiet game but it’s all part of his progression as a player. Hopefully he will learn from it. I wonder when we’ll hear news about DCE? Surely it’s getting close one way or the other.

[Mickie Lane]

If DCE comes as expected it wont matter if he's wearing 6 or 7 I believe he will be our game manager & rightly so, Sam will play off the cuff & be more dominant when we are close to the opposition line.
If Sam & DCE dont get injured you wont see Hugo in the 17 unless Watson is injured.

Teddy
Sam
DCE
Robson
will be the spine & Watson will be the 14 with 3 other forwards.

If all fit
Teddy
Toups
Smith
Toia
Nawaqanitwasa
Sam
DCE
Whyte
Robspn
Collins
Gus
Wong
Rads/Foketi while Rads in out

Watson
Leniu
N Butcher
E Butcher

Steep

[theGman]

Nobody is bigger or better than the club they play for - nobody!

Young Sam better watch over his back because young Toby is plying his trade and will be an exceptional replacement.
Many former players who now work in the media also agree.

[BTRD]

Re Mickie Lane's post.

Yep Foketi at 13. But Hugo at 6 and Walker at 7.

My bench would be: Watson, Steep, Spencer, the Concretor.

The Butcher's, Radley and DCE (if true) - can all way it in line.

[The Real King]

He had a quiet game but it’s all part of his progression as a player. Hopefully he will learn from it. I wonder when we’ll hear news about DCE? Surely it’s getting close one way or the other.

OK sure learn, that’s fine, but if you demand 1 million dollars then that’s how you need to play and you need to play like that every game.

DCE supposedly announced November 1st.
What a complete mess his idiot manager created for the poor guy and it's still going. Just end it Now!

[mightyrooster]

OK sure learn, that’s fine, but if you demand 1 million dollars then that’s how you need to play and you need to play like that every game.

DCE supposedly announced November 1st.
What a complete mess his idiot manager created for the poor guy and it's still going. Just end it Now!

I get what you’re saying but if we didn’t pay him the $ there would be other clubs who certainly would. It’s a players market for halves at the moment. Why November 1? I don’t understand why the delay especially after the season has ended.

[Random Rooster]

Not much has been said about his performance against the Sharks. I thought it really stank.

I love his ad-lib style, and he's great to watch when confidence is high and he's setting up or scoring tries.

Sure, he'd come off a long injury layoff but in previous games he was on fire.

I'm concerned that if Walker is having an off game we will struggle to score points. When your forwards are dominating there’s no excuses not to create. I accept that he's unlikely ever going to be a game management type of halfback.

trewhella rightly pointed out that Savala's strengths could also be his weaknesses. His style compliments Walker but I'm hoping his running game improves as we will need more from him in 2026.

If the team is going to complete at 68% then your going to lose 90% of matches- doesn't matter if your halfback is Cleary, Sterling an Langer all rolled into one.

[Bates]

Perhaps the game plan stifled his performances as Sammy only knows how to play one way.

High stakes game. Perhaps Robbo wanted him wind it back at touch.

It's head up footy or bust for Walker.

[Vasco]

If the team is going to complete at 68% then your going to lose 90% of matches- doesn't matter if your halfback is Cleary, Sterling an Langer all rolled into one.

The above mentioned players would have done way more in that game.

[Michael Jones]

Nowadays they pay on potential and who knows if a player will ever reach that level that those who sign the player think they will.

Sam's best footy is in front of him and of course will be always targeted in defence.

Why not put him on the wing in defence and for any attacking kick Sam and the winger can swap places before that kick . Even if the winger drops back for a kick Sam can use the sideline as an extra defender if the opposition runs it on the last tackle.

The Roosters need to be better in the main stats areas of the game - set completions , minimise errors and more disciplined ( minimise penalties and set restarts).

It's a 17 player game and all need to contribute.

[Bates]

imo we beat the Sharks with DCE at 7 however we need Sammy's playmaking ability to win the comp.

DCE is a vanilla flavoured halfback at this point in time of his career. You can't win a comp with predictable boring vanilla flavoured plays that are so slow and outdated. You need spark!