Sydney Roosters move to tie down young gun Sam Walker
He signed a $300K deal with Sydney Roosters as a 16-year-old, shunned interest from rugby, so it’s no surprise the club is moving to lock in long term the son of a Brisbane Broncos legend.
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The Warriors have not ruled out making a play for Wayne Bennett with New Zealand boss Cameron George saying the club would be foolish not to consider the claims of the super coach.
Speaking exclusively to Sports Confidential, George said Bennett’s outstanding coaching record and longevity in the NRL could not be ignored as the Warriors continue their search for Steve Kearney’s successor.
However, George made it clear the Warriors have not formally approached Bennett at this stage following speculation the Kiwi club received an approach from a third party offering the 70-year-old’s services.
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George lauded Bennett’s status as a seven-time premiership-winner, but the timing of his contract expiry at Souths could make any move across the ditch difficult. Bennett is off-contract at Souths at the end of next year and would have to cut short his deal to be available for the Warriors.
“Anyone in their right mind would look at the calibre of Wayne Bennett,” George said.
“He has a long history in the game and a record like his is incredible.
“But I can assure you we haven’t had any discussions with Wayne Bennett whatsoever or anyone connected to Wayne.
“I wouldn’t even know who manages Wayne Bennett. The only person I know that is connected to him is Blake Solly (Souths CEO) so I would have to talk to him.”
Bennett said last month: “Someone may well have contacted the Warriors about me, who knows, but I can tell you right now that I have not spoken to anyone from New Zealand and I have no plans to.”
SAM WON’T WALK FROM CHOOKS
The Roosters have made moves to upgrade and extend the contract of Sam Walker to stave off a poaching threat for the boom Queensland young gun.
Walker is already contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2021 but the premiers have been so impressed by the rookie’s attitude and development in his maiden year at Bondi they want to lock up him for longer.
Walker turned 18 last month, making him eligible for NRL selection. Kyle Flanagan is doing a good job at halfback as a foil for Luke Keary, but if there is a form or injury dilemma, the Roosters believe Walker could handle the big league.
The son of former Broncos halfback Ben Walker, Sam signed a $300,000 deal with the Roosters last year at age 16, shunning interest from the Australian Rugby Union, and is rated a future NRL superstar.
Walker has been unable to play second-tier games due to the COVID-19 saga but has been relishing the opportunity to learn from chief Roosters playmaker Luke Keary and coach Trent Robinson.
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“It was really good to sit down and learn,” Walker said earlier this year. “Trent Robinson (Roosters coach) is the first head coach to speak to me about the way I play and I picked up little tips.
“Trent is the best coach in the NRL at the moment and it is good to hear from the best.”
DON’T WORRY ABOUT WARRIORS
The Warriors insist they will not leave the NRL in crisis by quitting the competition despite five players ready to fly home to New Zealand in the next fortnight.
David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa will return home on July 27, joining Leivaha Pulu, who has left the Warriors camp in Australia and is now in self-isolation in Christchurch.
The Warriors could struggle to field 17 men in coming weeks if an injury crisis hits, but CEO Cameron George says the club is determined not to abandon the NRL.
“I’ve got my phone on all the time and the guys that are there will continue on as best they can for the fans and the club. At this point in time, I think we are OK,” George said from New Zealand.
“We’re going to have to look around the NRL for other players to help us out.
“To the NRL’s credit, they are doing their absolute best.
“I’m always worried because it is a sensitive and challenging position for our players and their families being separated, but I am also comforted by the resilience our leaders are showing.”
BOYD’S TITANIC OFFER
Queensland Origin star David Fifita is not the only current Bronco to have fielded a huge contract from the Titans.
Well before Fifita was an NRL star, his now Broncos teammate Darius Boyd received a lucrative offer from the Gold Coast to join the likes of Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Anthony Laffranchi and Preston Campbell at the Titans for the 2011 season.
At the time, Fifita was just 11 years old and Boyd was the hottest property in the NRL. He had just won a grand final at the Dragons, including his man-of-the-match performance in the 2010 decider which won him the Clive Churchill Medal.
Like James Tedesco now, Boyd was dancing around defenders like they weren’t there and would have turned the Titans into a genuine premiership force after they made the 2010 preliminary final.
But when Boyd sat down to mull over the offer, he asked himself two questions - will joining the Titans make him a better person and a better player?
He opted to stay loyal to the Dragons. Boyd reveals this in his new book Battling the Blues, which will be released next month.
FANS FLOCK TO FIGHT
The Jeff Horn-Tim Tszyu blockbuster is already attracting major interest.
Almost 1000 corporate seats were snapped up in just 72 hours following the official launch on Monday for the super welterweight fight at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on August 26.
Organisers are hoping for a crowd of around 16,000 in what would be Horn’s biggest domestic turnout since his epic victory over Manny Pacquiao in front of 51,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.
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WISE WORDS FOR FIFITA
The sage words of former Broncos prop Harvey Howard should not be forgotten as David Fifita weighs up whether to sacrifice $550,000 by staying at Brisbane.
The Titans have offered Fifita a head-spinning $1.25 million contract, almost double the $700,000 the Broncos can afford under the salary cap next season.
Fifita is seriously considering the Titans offer and the views of Howard, who played in Brisbane’s 2000 premiership victory, should resonate with every NRL player.
When asked years ago about whether players should take less money and stay loyal to a club, the British bookend had a simple analysis.
“Do you want the premiership ring?” Howard once mused. “Or do you want a mansion on the river when you are retired?”
HAAS’ PACK MENTALITY
Broncos monster Payne Haas was shocked to discover ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys could look to axe scrums following the pack-in debacle during the Titans-Warriors game last week.
The sight of Titans players barely forming a six-man unit infuriated V’landys, who is considering scrapping scrums altogether next year unless NRL stars take the pack-down seriously.
But when asked if he wanted scrums axed, Haas couldn’t speak quickly enough in support of them.
“I probably enjoy the scrums because I get a rest,” Haas said with a laugh. “So I want them to keep them.”
WANTED MAN
The Dragons are set to stave off a poaching threat from the Warriors for Queensland Origin hopeful Josh Kerr.
The 24-year-old Kerr is off-contract at season’s end but it’s understood St George Illawarra are closing in on a new deal for the promising Indigenous All Stars prop.
Kerr is the first prop since Arthur Beetson to emerge from the Redcliffe ranks to play NRL and he has impressed this season with his athleticism and no-nonsense charges in a struggling Dragons team.
Kerr’s impressive 110kg frame caught the eye of the Warriors but he wants to remain on Australian soil in a bid to push for Queensland Origin honours in the coming seasons.
“It’s crazy to be in negotiations because I’m not used to being in demand,” said Kerr, who has played 16 games since his debut last year.
“I’m happy at the Dragons but I want to make sure I get the best out of myself before I weigh up all my options. I do love the Dragons and the history of the club so if the deal is right I’d be happy to stay.”
ON THE MOVE
Queensland could soon become the sports capital of Australia.
Our spies tell us that the biggest professional women’s team sporting competition, the Suncorp Super Netball, may emulate the AFL and head to the Sunshine State.
It would be a coup for Queensland netball fans to see the Firebirds and Lightning playing all games up north. There is talk all the finals, including the grand final, will be played at Nissan Arena.
Originally published as Sydney Roosters move to tie down young gun Sam Walker