NRL news: Sam Walker’s new contract could mean trouble for Roosters star Luke Keary
Luke Keary is a veteran leader at the Roosters, but he’s not the future, and he may not even be among the club’s two best options in the halves.
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A beefed-up Sam Walker has returned for Sydney Roosters’ pre-season training ready to commit to a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Bondi until at least the end of 2025.
But while Walker’s new deal will put to bed any potential speculation about the young Queenslander returning to his home state in the near future, it has sparked a fresh debate about who should be Walker’s halves partner for 2023 and beyond.
And the big question is should the Roosters stick with veteran Luke Keary until his current deal expires at the end of 2024 — or is it time coach Trent Robinson made the tough call and move Kiwi superstar Joey Manu from centre to five-eighth permanently?
With Keary and Manu now on leave following the World Cup, Walker started back at training on Monday with his weight said to be now up to 82kg.
That’s 4kg heavier than what the lightweight halfback was listed at this season.
On a frame as lean and fit as Walker’s, that’s a significant development in itself.
But the fact Walker has all but agreed to a new deal also shows the Roosters have made a decision on who they want wearing the No. 7 jumper for at least the next three seasons.
And while there has been no indication the Roosters are planning for anything other than a Walker/Keary halves combination in 2023, Manu’s dominant performances at the World Cup have raised further questions about whether the Bondi club is doing itself an injustice by not moving Manu to closer to the action sooner rather than later.
Just last week the man rated the world’s best centre took out the Golden Boot award as the world’s best international player for his starring performances for the Kiwis at fullback and five-eighth.
There is also mounting pressure on everyone at the Roosters for an improved season in 2023 after they finished outside the top four for back-to-back years.
No one questions that when fit and healthy Keary is still one of the best five-eighths in the game.
But the key issue surrounds Keary’s ongoing health concerns, after suffering a series of concussion injuries in recent seasons.
While he still has two years to run on his existing contract, it has been speculated one more serious head knock could ultimately end Keary’s playing career.
Keary turns 31 in February and he has studied to pursue a career in business after his retirement from footy.
But the growing issue for the Roosters is whether they can hold off moving Manu into the halves for another two seasons if Keary ends up playing out the full term of his deal.
Especially now Walker is ready to make a call on his future.
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Originally published as NRL news: Sam Walker’s new contract could mean trouble for Roosters star Luke Keary
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