NRL 2021: Roosters chairman Nick Politis ready to ward off Broncos advances for halfback Sam Walker

While the Broncos may be intrigued by a Sam Walker reunion down the track, Roosters supremo Nick Politis is hatching plans to make sure the young halfback never hits the open market.

Roosters supremo Nick Politis has outlined his plan to keep Sam Walker at Bondi for life amid fears the Broncos will attempt a poaching raid to bring the halfback whiz kid home to Queensland.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has put out the welcome mat for Walker, declaring he would “love all Queensland kids to come back and play for the Broncos” ahead of Friday night’s clash against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

The Walker story is one of the NRL’s spiciest narratives, with the teenage sensation quitting the Broncos two years ago to pursue a first-grade career with premiership powerhouse the Roosters.

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Sam Walker has taken the NRL by storm.

While Walker faced Brisbane in round 11 at the SCG, this clash will be his first showdown against the Broncos on Queensland soil at the Suncorp venue he once dreamed of calling home.

The Broncos have been savaged for losing Walker, who is the raging favourite to be named the NRL’s rookie-of-the-year after a sizzling campaign that has kept the Roosters in title contention despite a shocking injury toll.

Walker’s form this year prompted the Roosters to hand him a two-year extension in May and billionaire Politis is determined to ensure the classy 19-year-old is never lost to any rival — including the Broncos.

“Sam Walker has been fantastic for us. He is inspirational,” Politis said as Walker prepares to exact revenge for the Roosters‘ shock 34-16 loss to the Broncos in May.

“Whether Brisbane try to get him back ... they should never have lost him, but why would he want to leave the Roosters?

“It’s hard to know what will happen in two years, but there is no indication from Sam Walker that he will ever want to leave.

Nick Politis is determined to keep Sam Walker at Bondi for the long haul.

“I think we will keep him long term. We have extended Sam for another two years but he won’t want to go anywhere else.

“He loves the Roosters, he loves the coach (Trent Robinson) ... there is no sign he will ever want to go anywhere.”

The Ipswich junior has hit the NRL like a tsunami this season.

From just 15 appearances, Walker has seven tries, 17 try assists, 21 line-break assists and 31 tackle busts to underline why is Queensland’s Origin halfback successor to Daly Cherry-Evans.

Broncos development chiefs insist they never wanted to lose Walker and tabled a formal offer in 2019, only to be outbid by the Roosters.

Walker will be off-contract in 2024, by which time Broncos halfback recruit Adam Reynolds, who arrives next season on a three-year deal, will be ready to retire.

Kevin Walters knows Sam Walker well from his time with the Queensland Origin set-up.

Walters wasn’t at the Broncos when Walker quit the club but is acutely aware of his ability as Queensland’s former Origin coach when the Roosters young gun was coming through the Maroons’ junior system.

“We would love all Queensland kids to come back and play for the Broncos,” Walters said.

“I’m not sure what Sam is (doing), I think he has re-signed with the Roosters for the next couple of years.

“Right now, he is in the opposition team (on Friday) night and we have 17 guys ready to run out and do their best for the Broncos.”

Politis said the Roosters have already invested heavily in Walker, with the club inviting the teenager to last year’s World Club Challenge trip, which included a tour of world-football kings Barcelona.

“We have looked after Sam,” he said.

Sam Walker relished his trip with the Roosters to visit football giants Barcelona last year.

“When he was 17, we took him overseas. We visited the Barcelona football club and he was blown away, he was walking around in the scarf and the Barcelona gear.

“Why would Sam want to walk away from an organisation like that?

“We have had a terrible run with injuries this year and we threw Sam in and the way he has handled it has been outstanding.

“He is a great kid and a great player. He is going to have a fantastic future.

“He is so confident for a young man. Nothing fazes him.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Roosters chairman Nick Politis ready to ward off Broncos advances for halfback Sam Walker