‘That’s the future’: Halves reality Roosters can no longer ignore

The Roosters may have a massive call on its hands as a legend called for a three-time premiership winner to be moved on.

Sam Walker, Luke Keary and Joey Manu.

The Dolphins and Bulldogs have been urged to make a play for Luke Keary as calls grow for the Roosters to invest in Sam Walker and Joey Manu as their long-term halves pairing.

Rugby league legend Billy Moore said on The Fox League Podcast, that the Roosters out of respect for Keary, should ask him where he wants to move to, before building the team around Manu and Walker as the main playmakers.

“The best halfback that could be on the market is Luke Keary,” Moore said on The Fox League podcast.

“If I was the Dolphins or the Bulldogs I would be knocking on the Roosters door saying I think your No.7 and No.6 actually clash here.

“Personally I think that Sam Walker is your future. I would be saying to Luke Keary where would you like us to move you to?”

However, James Hooper believes Keary’s concussion history could be a stumbling block for rival clubs signing him.

“You raise a great point and I’m sure that probably has been discussed at some level,” Hooper said.

“The only thing I wonder with Luke is because he is coming off this latest head knock now. He has been named the last three weeks and then been ruled out at the last minute.

Luke Keary could be shopped to NRL rivals.

“I think he has medically been cleared, but the Roosters have got a really strong reputation in this space where they do take an approach with absolute caution around concussion as an issue.

“I reckon there are some reservations about how good Luke is going to be able to come back because he has had a hell of a lot of them. He had five over the course of an 18 month window and then now this most recent one was fairly innocuous.

“I love Luke Keary as a player. He is an out and out champion. Clive Churchill Medallist and won three premierships and has been there and done it all.

“But I do worry he is not a big bloke and in the position that he plays in you need to dance in the valley of death. You have got to be able to take the line on and I worry about his longevity at the moment.”

Joey Manu has impressed at No.6.

Moore agreed that Keary is a risky signing, but believes the Roosters need to move on from the failed Walker and Keary halves combination because they are too similar.

“You have got to take that into consideration if you pay good money to buy him,” Moore said.

“But I had the Roosters in the grand final this year because I was so excited about the team. “The fact last year they had so many injuries, I thought this squad will polish up brilliantly under their coach Robinson.

“The more that I analyse what is going on it just looks like their No.6 and No.7 are too like for like.”

Moore believes Manu is only scratching the surface of his potential in rugby league and the No.6 jersey may be the best way for him and the Roosters to reach their potential.

Sam Walker is considered the Roosters’ future at No.7.

“That’s the future of that club Walker at No.7 and Joey Manu to No.6,” Moore said.

“You look at their age and the potential injuries that Keary is carrying.

“And what we saw last week Joey Manu is a Cameron Munster style player.

“I played on the fringe. Imagine looking up going I am going to defend this guy.

“What is he going to do because he is like Laurie Daley. He can do everything. Kick, run, pass, step. He has every string to his bow and sometimes you think does he even know either?

“He amazes me how good he is and I think we have just seen the tip of the iceberg. There is more to this guy, especially when he plays intensely in a position over a period of time and builds up a really good rapport with his fellow spine members.”

Hooper agreed that Keary and Walker two small bodies that don’t complement each other as well as Manu as a running five-eighth and Walker running the team at halfback.

“Manu is an out and out superstar and with the shape and size of Keary and Walker you are certainly better off having Manu in the halves,” Hooper said.

Originally published as ‘That’s the future’: Halves reality Roosters can no longer ignore