Sam Walker agrees to multimillion-dollar Sydney Roosters extension

Despite being ruled out for most of the 2025 season with an ACL injury, the Sydney Roosters halfback is set to become the code’s newest $1 million player after agreeing to an extension with the club.

Queensland Origin hopeful Sam Walker has agreed terms on a mega deal at the Roosters to become the code’s newest $1 million player.

This masthead understands Walker has shaken hands with the Roosters on a two-year extension worth around $1.05 million a season - making him the 15th player in the NRL to join the code’s elite millionaire’s club.

The $2.1 million, two-year package includes a car for the 2021 NRL rookie of the year.

Walker has yet to formally sign but the Roosters are in the advanced stages of formalising the deal to keep the halfback sensation at Bondi until the end of 2027.

Walker’s loyalty will come as a relief for the Roosters amid fears the 22-year-old could have headed to free agency on November 1 after his management initially tabled an asking price of $1.5 million a season.

While the Roosters baulked at that amount, they were happy to come to the party on a seven-figure deal to ensure Walker did not test his value on the open market.

Sam Walker suffered an ACL injury in round 26. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Penrith champion Nathan Cleary is the highest-paid halfback in the NRL on $1.3 million a season, followed by Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.2m), Parramatta No.7 Mitchell Moses ($1.2m) and Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes ($1.1m).

Now Walker is the fifth halfback to clinch a seven-figure deal and will join Roosters skipper James Tedesco as the glamour club’s highest-paid players.

It is a major show of faith from the Roosters, with Walker set to miss most of the 2025 premiership after undergoing two reconstructions to his knee and shoulder in recent months.

Walker has just started minor running and may not be available until August next year, which effectively wipes out his 2025 campaign.

Despite his injury woes, Walker is viewed as the code’s next rising superstar halfback to match Cleary, who is four years his senior, and is on track to succeed Cherry-Evans as Queensland’s next long-term shot-caller at the scrumbase.