Sam Walker sin binned as Roosters win 31-24 over Dragons

Roosters star Sam Walker had a mixed night in his NRL return, sparking his sides’ attack, while also enjoying a trip to the sin bin, as the Dragons suffered yet another agonisingly close loss.

Sam Walker described his performance as “rocks or diamonds” during the Roosters’ 31-24 win against St George Illawarra. There were glimpses of brilliance but also natural rust which comes with having not played an NRL game since September.

Before Saturday’s clash against the Dragons he had played just 40 minutes in NSW Cup since suffering a knee injury last year. His return was delayed when he suffered a broken thumb at training last month.

“It’s awesome to be able to start playing in front of a crowd again,” Walker said. “It’s been a long wait but so good to be back out there

“(The thumb injury) tough but the silver lining was it gave my knee more time to heal.

“It was a little bit rocks or diamonds. I know I have a fair bit to work on. Some good periods and some periods I need to work on. It will come and I’ll build on in the next few weeks

“Before warm up I started to get a bit nervous. A lot more excitement than nervous.”

Sam Walker had a mixed return, sparking the Roosters attack, but also having a trip to the sin bin. Picture: Getty Images

Walker showed his class on Saturday night and his presence could be enough to propel the Roosters to a finals finish. His footy nous too had been missing from the Roosters line-up after kicking a key field goal on the stroke of half-time.

He finished the game with a try assist, four goals from four attempts, a sin-bin and a missed tackle which led to a try.

But he was grateful just to have come through the 70 minutes that he played unscathed.

His left-hand side of the field dominated St George Illawarra’s defence early laying on two tries.

Walker’s first half was marred when he was sent to the sin-bin for being a third man in on a low-tackle against David Klemmer.

Referee Grant Atkins said the tackle was “avoidable” and had a “high risk of injury” before binning the Roosters halfback.

The Roosters scored with Walker still in the sin-bin.

He was in the action early in the second half when he laid on a try to Billy Smith. A defensive miss by Walker led to a Jaydn Su’A try in what was his only major second half blemish.

MIXED RETURN FOR WALKER AS ROOSTERS BREAK DRAGONS’ HEARTS

—Eamonn Tiernan

The Roosters are back inside the top eight after outlasting the Dragons 31-24 in a thriller at a heaving Kogarah Oval on Saturday night.

It was a shootout early and 30 points were on the scoreboard after just 18 minutes, with all five tries scored by wingers.

But cometh the hour, cometh the man and it was Dally M Medal favourite James Tedesco who put Victor Radley over in 78th minute to seal the victory.

The Kogarah hill was pumping with 13,856 Red V faithful converging under a full moon but once again their side fell short in what has been the story of their season.

Roosters halfback Sam Walker played his first game of the season after returning from back-to-back injuries and it was a mixed bag from the playmaker.

The classy No. 7 was binned and made several errors, but also showed his class in attack to help steer his side home.

There were six State of Origin stars backing and the best battle was between Queensland teammates Val Holmes and Robert Toia.

Roosters young buck Toia and Dragons old bull Holmes went toe-to-toe in an entertaining battle and it was the Roosters star who got the better of his opposite number.

The Roosters celebrate after Robert Toia scores a try in their win over the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

MAROONS STARS SQUARE OFF

Just days after celebrating a famous Origin series victory together into the early hours of Thursday morning, Robert Toia and Val Holmes squared up against each other.

Holmes set up the Dragons’ second try before Toia crossed the Roosters third when he leapt above Holmes to haul in a bomb and score while his side was a man down.

Toia then crunched Holmes while defending his line with a ball-and-all hit on the fifth tackle that ended the attacking set.

Toia went close to scoring one of the tries of the season in the 50th minute but he couldn’t quite finish after taking an incredible flick pass from Mark Nawaqanitawase.

Toia did cough the ball up just 15 metres from his line which allowed Jaydn Su’A to score in the 65th minute.

Roosters quartet Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton and Spencer Leniu were the other Origin stars to back up.

FRAGILE WINGS

Dragons No. 2 Tyrell Sloan and Roosters No. 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase aren’t exactly known for their defence and their edges leaked four of the opening five tries.

Wingers scored the first five tries over the match, with Sloan crossing for the Dragons’ opener but he was no match for Daniel Tupou in defence.

But his confidence wasn’t dented in defence, with the winger shirt-fronting Roosters big man Lindsay Collins in the 34th minute which cost his side a penalty.

Sloan made a half break at the death and when he tried to set up a matchwinner with a kick back infield he was crunched by Tupou.

Originally published as Sam Walker sin binned as Roosters win 31-24 over Dragons