Sam Walker

[Steakface]

At the game I thought he had an injury

He wasn't 100%.

There were at least a handful of times he looked like he was hobbling along, not from a leg I don't think but maybe a groin injury or something.

Still, it was not just the physical aspect - it was his decision making that was off too. He didn't seem to have many answers down the business end of the field.

Then again, the Sharks goal line D was extremely good. As good as our old wall almost.

[Steakface]

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 You can't win a comp with predictable boring vanilla flavoured plays that are so slow and outdated.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!

DCE is madness at this time. He is not going to add much at this stage in his career.

Cronk is taking care of Walker & Savala from a mentoring perspective. They've shown that they can produce in the big games at times.

They now need a full year to work together and build on 2025.

Bringing a geriatric DCE in sets that halves partnership back a year, not to mention costing us a bomb that could be better spent elsewhere.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

DCE is madness at this time. He is not going to add much at this stage in his career.

Cronk is taking care of Walker & Savala from a mentoring perspective. They've shown that they can produce in the big games at times.

They now need a full year to work together and build on 2025.

Bringing a geriatric DCE in sets that halves partnership back a year, not to mention costing us a bomb that could be better spent elsewhere.

Like on Hugo's bomb

[redwhiteblue]

I thought Sammy had a Graeme Langlands white boots type of game that night sadly.

But most of us understood it would be a rebuilding phase after losing so much talent. I'm still really pleased that our highlights reel for the season will still be far more entertaining than those other mediocre teams.

[Vasco]

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 You can't win a comp with predictable boring vanilla flavoured plays that are so slow and outdated.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!

Worked ok with Cronk.

[rented tracksuit]

Like on Hugo's bomb

And a bloody good bomb it is too!

[Bates]

Worked ok with Cronk.

C'mon Vas, you can't compare Cronk and DCE especially as DCE is well past it. SOO highlighted his frailties! Manly missed the 8 with a top 6 roster.

Cronk was still the best 7 in the game and we were lucky to jag him.

The other notable difference is that we were all but ripe to win a comp back in 2018/19. A team full of quality players in their prime. All that was missing was a general to steer the ship.

We now have a team full of talented rookies who imo still need 2 to 3 seasons to hit their straps. By then DCE will be in a nursing home lol.

[The Real King]

DCE is madness at this time. He is not going to add much at this stage in his career.

Cronk is taking care of Walker & Savala from a mentoring perspective. They've shown that they can produce in the big games at times.

They now need a full year to work together and build on 2025.

Bringing a geriatric DCE in sets that halves partnership back a year, not to mention costing us a bomb that could be better spent elsewhere.

Cronk is gone, he is going back to his true love Melbourne.

[The Real King]

[QUOTE=mightyrooster;n1116708]

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.[/QUOTE

Right now, Walker is playing like he’s on $500k and normally that would be fine as he’s still learning how to be a genuine 7.
But if you demand to be the highest-paid player at the club or threaten to walk then you’ve got to deliver.

It’s not just a casual run-around in the park with your mates, you need to perform and handle the pressure that comes with the price tag you wanted.
You can’t demand $1 million and still play like a $500k player.

DCE Why? November 1st is the start of the 2026 Rugby League season. Again Why? because it’s just been a complete mess, announce it after the GrandFinal and get it over and done with.

[Steakface]

Worked ok with Cronk.

Cannot be compared at all. Lazy analysis.

[Steakface]

Cronk is gone, he is going back to his true love Melbourne.

I'd like to believe he has equal love for us too.

Don't forget - he had a bigger leadership role with us than he did in Melbourne. With us, he was the general despite not having the captaincy. At the Storm, Smith & Slater were firmly in charge. So he possibly feels a stronger sense of 'ownership' over the Roosters titles compared to the Storm ones.

I also got the feeling that his feelings towards certain team members in Melbourne had gone a bit sour (especially with that pshycopath Cam Smith) , whereas the bond between the Rooster squad seemed very strong still when Cronk departed.

He also chose to stay in coaching/advising roles with us first instead of going straight back to the storm.

[Vasco]

Cannot be compared at all. Lazy analysis.

Righto.

[On the Nose]

Yes it did work well with Cronk. And there is no need for Vasco to expand on his comment because any rooster worth thier salt can see the similarities between the 2 players. I'll give you an example of a hypocrite. .Responding with "Cannot be compared at all. Lazy analysis. ." Do you not comprehend pwhat you wrote? Absolutely hilarious.

[The Marshall]

He wasn't 100%.

There were at least a handful of times he looked like he was hobbling along, not from a leg I don't think but maybe a groin injury or something.

Still, it was not just the physical aspect - it was his decision making that was off too. He didn't seem to have many answers down the business end of the field.

Then again, the Sharks goal line D was extremely good. As good as our old wall almost.

No one is fully fit in finals, I agree that he just didn't aim up and needs further development. he will get there.

[Mickie Lane]

At the end of the day whether Sam was fit or not or whether Sam was off in the final game or not the Roosters would not have been able to compete with the top 5 teams this year.
Hopefully next year we can match the top teams.