NRL 2021: Sydney Roosters’ Sam Walker told to ‘embrace’ likely Nelson Asofa-Solomona challenge
Former Melbourne Storm antagonist Mick Ennis says Roosters young gun Sam Walker should be readying himself for a bruising welcoming committee, but says it’s not as bad as it sounds.
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Former Melbourne Storm antagonist Mick Ennis has given Sydney Roosters young gun Sam Walker a crash-course on what to expect at AAMI Park come Friday night.
And never mind the war of words that’s erupted between James Tedesco and Cronulla’s Chad Townsend over trash talking claims directed at Walker last weekend.
Ennis is predicting Craig Bellamy will have his own welcoming committee ready to greet the teenage rookie — which will be led by man-mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
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Ennis expects Bellamy to “park” the NRL’s scariest human on the Storm’s already daunting left edge that consists of Kenny Bromwich, Cameron Munster and the human torpedo Justin Olam.
On his Melbourne player profile it lists Asofa-Solomona at 2m tall and 115kg, but many reckon 125kg-plus is probably closer to the truth.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Walker is 183cm and listed at 78kg.
But rather than have sleepless nights this week worrying about the tale of the tape, Ennis says the trick for Walker will be to go down and “embrace” the experience.
Walker earned rave reviews for his match-winning performance in the comeback win over the Sharks, with his skipper Tedesco unloading on Townsend who he claimed taunted Walker throughout the match.
“Townsend was giving it to him, but cop that Townsend,” Tedesco told reporters.
“He showed him how to play footy.
“They were going after him but it doesn’t faze him if you run over him. He’ll still carve you up.”
Townsend hit back at Tedesco, denying he targeted the rookie, claiming he only spoke to big Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
“This is trash from Tedesco. The only person I spoke to on the field from the Roosters was JWH,” Townsend tweeted.
But regardless of what happened last weekend, Walker’s focus right now would be on preparing for the biggest test of his young career so far — which is taking on the ruthless premiers in their own backyard.
There’s been a little bit of talk Trent Robinson might even consider switching Angus Crichton over to Walker’s right edge specifically to act as his body guard for this week, but Ennis reckons Robinson would be reluctant to make that change.
“Angus is certainly versatile but I just think he has really established himself on that left edge,” Ennis said.
“That has been (Boyd) Cordner’s home for so long and he has done a terrific job and they love to attack that side.
“I would be surprised if they did move him.
“And I just think with Trent, I don’t know him that well, but I just get the sense he looks at the positive side of it and says, ‘well, this is just a great test for the kid’.
“And it is a great test for him.
“And I think it is a test I think they should embrace, because if Walker can handle the blowtorch of AAMI Park, the confidence levels you get out of having a good result in Melbourne is huge.”
Ennis of course knows first-hand how tough it can be taking on the Storm in Melbourne, especially when you know you’re the target.
“(At Cronulla and Canterbury) we had a really tough pack, but they still physically went after individuals,” Ennis recalled.
“And you could feel in a game that you were one of those blokes.
“You just had traffic running at you the whole time.
“They were just into you and it was relentless.
“So you have got to be mentally ready when you go out.
“No doubt Sam would be nervous.
“But I think he would have been nervous the last two weeks as well.
“And I just don’t think that has affected his game.
“I think we saw something special on Saturday night and I don’t think that was a one off.”
12-STEP GUIDE FOR NRL PRODIGIES TO HANDLE THE HYPE
Former rugby league teenage prodigies have devised a 12-point plan to prevent rising Sydney Roosters star Sam Walker falling victim to the hype and pressure of being a young NRL sensation.
The off-contract Walker, who the Roosters are expected to re-sign to a long-term deal in the coming weeks, became an instant hero after manufacturing three tries – he set up two and scored one – inside the final 11 minutes as his Roosters turned an 18-4 deficit against Cronulla into a miraculous 26-18 win on Saturday night.
It was just his second game of NRL.
Fearing Walker could be sidetracked by the fanfare and exposure, four ex-gun rookies offered advice to the young gun on how to cope and combat the expected limelight and spotlight.
They told Walker to:
^ Believe in yourself, believe in your preparation.
^ Ask senior players for advice.
^ Be wary of social media.
^ Don’t get ahead of yourself.
^ Read the hype but don’t listen to it.
^ Ready yourself for criticism.
^ Don’t downplay yourself.
^ Don’t take your eyes off the ball.
^ Keep your head and be humble.
^ Don’t get carried away.
^ Retain your internal level of excitement.
^ Run with the early success but don’t get ahead of yourself.
^ Listen to your coach.
Tim Brasher was just 18 when he debuted for Balmain in 1989.
“The biggest thing is to believe in yourself and do what you know is right,” Brasher said.
“As long as you know you can do it, think you’re worthy and have belief in your preparation – if you don’t have that, you’re going to get smashed.
“You have to believe in yourself to be there at this new level. He wouldn’t be there now if he didn’t believe in himself.
“Make sure you do your preparation and believe in yourself when you’re out there. When the going gets tough, you’re going to fall back on your preparation.”
Greg Alexander went from school directly into the Panthers first grade team aged 18 in 1984.
“When you’ve thought about playing first grade all your life, and then all of a sudden you’re there, and there’s plenty of chat about how good you’re going to be, there’s reason to downplay yourself,” Alexander said.
“Run with it. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself but you want to keep that level of excitement up within yourself. You want to be humble about what you do but you want to keep that level of confidence up.
“It is the belief and confidence you have inside is what I think is important. The senior players will keep you grounded and make sure you listen to them because you are still a rookie.”
Paul Langmack was just 17-years-old when he was thrust into the Canterbury Bulldogs side in 1983.
“He should keep asking senior players for advice all the time. Sam will probably read the hype but don’t listen to it, don’t digest it. If you’re to get on social media, like all young people do, don’t take it seriously,” Langmack said.
“He should follow his dreams, but if he takes his eyes off the ball, then he won’t get there.
“At the Roosters, he’s lucky he’s at a good club. They have won premierships in the last few years, Trent Robinson is a good coach and he has some mentors there that can help him.
“It wasn’t hard back in my time because there were only newspapers. Now there’s social media, everything is so instant, so it would be much harder.”
Coming from Junee, Laurie Daley made his first grade debut for Canberra as a 17-year-old in 1987.
Asked for his advice to Walker, Daley said: “Keep your head down, keep working hard, don’t get carried away and not believe in all the hype. Don’t read about yourself, keep listening to your coach and looking for ways to improve.
“He could just as quickly get criticised as well. Sam is setting his own standards and levels so everyone knows what he can and can’t do, so there will be moments where things don’t happen for him. There will be days like that.
“It is probably harder today for young kids coming through from when we played because there are so many more different media information platforms – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter – everyone has a say.
“Don’t believe the criticism and don’t believe what’s being written about him, whether it’s poor, bad or good.”
10 MINUTES OF MAGIC WHICH CONFIRMS ROOSTERS HAVE REAL GEM
– Michael Carayannis
Sam Walker did something in just his second game Cronulla have seemingly forgotten what to do and that is beat a top eight side.
The teenage prodigy produced one of the best 10 minutes of football you could ever see where he laid on two tries and scored one of his own to break Cronulla’s hearts and produce a 26-18 win.
Walker said the team “finally expressed ourselves in the last 10 minutes”.
Just when it seemed Cronulla would finally claim a top eight scalp for the first time since 2019, they capitulated.
The Sharks led 18-4 after 52 minutes until Walker sprung to life. He produced two long cut-out passes on either side of the field to respective wingers Brett Morris and Daniel Tupou and scored a try of his own. Walker also set-up Morris for a first half try.
“I spend enough time practicing it at training so it becomes second nature in the game,” Walker said.
“All the boys know where to be and all I have to do is execute my pass. I’m excited to keep building. It’s amazing. I still can’t believe it. I’m loving every minute of it.”
Walker did not have it all his own way. He was targeted defensively in the first half with two tries coming down his edge of the field in the first half, including a poor attempt at Will Kennedy.
Cronulla led 12-4 at half-time.
“I have to be better there,” Walker said. “I have to work on my defence and a few of my movements. The boys around me helped me and talked me through what I needed to do.
“We made it really difficult for ourselves. We let them have some easy tries. We finally expressed ourselves in the last 10 minutes.”
Cronulla lost Wade Graham and Josh Dugan to first half concussions but were headed for victory when Jack Williams scored the opening try in the second half before Walker’s onslaught.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he had become used to watching Walker produce such brilliance.
“We expect that because we see it often at training,” Robinson said.
“Then the ability to put training into the game usually there is a barrier there, nerves or fear of the big stage.”
GRAHAM ROCKED BY KNOCK
Cronulla skipper Wade Graham suffered his second concussion in just three matches in a week where concussion again dominated headlines.
Josh Dugan also failed his second concussion in as many weeks leaving the duo in severe doubt for their match against Newcastle on Friday.
The pair will have to see an independent doctor to be cleared to return.
Coach John Morris said it was a concern.
“(Graham) seemed OK,” Morris said. “Clearly he copped a fair whack. Duges (Dugan) was assessed at half-time. (He was) struggling. Our staff said we could be in trouble with Josh.
“We can’t get through a game of footy without losing anyone. That’s 2021 you have to be good at adjusting and adapting.”
Graham and Dugan combined for the first try before Mawene Hiroti scored. Dugan also produced a great effort to hold-up Roosters fullback James Tedesco in the in-goal with a remarkable show of strength.
Dugan was cleared to play after coming from the field during Cronulla’s last-start win against North Queensland.
For Graham, he came from the field in the 14th minute after collecting the hip of Roosters prop Isaac Liu. Graham rose to his feet and walked off the field and after getting changed took his spot on the bench where he told his teammates he was feeling OK.
He was last concussed during Cronulla’s round three clash against the Eels where Cronulla’s casualty ward grew significantly.
Graham was also battling a hamstring injury after straining it in one of the opening sets.
HOOKING WOES
In the week where club legend Jake Friend was forced to retire because of concussion, the Roosters hooking stocks are severely depleted.
Starting No. 9 Freddy Lussick lasted just 18 minutes when he came from the field with a hyper-extended elbow. Back-up rake Ben Marschke was then placed on report in the first half for a crusher tackle on Hiroti.
Sam Verrills is sidelined for at least three weeks. Victor Radley is an option but Robinson said he may be forced to pick a part-time player from their under-19 SG Ball squad to play the Storm on Friday night.
“It would be nice to get one back,” Robinson said of the hooking situation.
“We will be back to our third string team when it comes to hookers. We are getting very thin. I’m not crying poor. It’s pretty rare after five games (to lose five hookers). It’s quite laughable.”
MORRIS WOES
With his future on the line, Cronulla coach John Morris could only watch on as his side imploded. Morris said it was “poor individual misses” in defence which led to their downfall.
“It was a shambolic last 19 minutes,” Morris said.
“Our right side conceded three ordinary tries. It would be nice to close one out and get a feel for what that feels like.”
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