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Sam Walker (rugby league)

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Sam Walker
Personal information
Full nameSamuel Walker
Born (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 22)
Leeds, England
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight78 kg (12 st 4 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– Sydney Roosters 77 25 222 6 550
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Prime Minister's XIII 1 1 0 0 4
Source: [1]
As of 1 September 2024
FatherBen Walker
RelativesShane Walker (uncle)
Chris Walker (uncle)
Katie Walker (aunt)

Samuel Walker (born 16 June 2002) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).

He has played for the Prime Minister's XIII at representative level.

Background

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Walker was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, while his Australian father Ben, a professional rugby league player, was playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.[2] Walker and his family moved back to Australia in 2003.

Walker played his first junior rugby league for the Burleigh Bears before moving to Ipswich with his family, where he played for the North Ipswich Tigers[3] and attended Ipswich Grammar School, where he was signed by the Brisbane Broncos.[4][5][6]

Walker's uncles Shane and Chris are also former professional rugby league players.[7]

Playing career

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In 2019, Walker played for the Ipswich Jets in the Mal Meninga Cup.[8] On 5 June 2019, he started at halfback for Queensland under-18 in their 34–12 win over New South Wales.[9] On 11 June 2019, he signed with the Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal.[10]

On 29 September 2019, Walker represented the Australian Schoolboys, scoring a try in their 36–20 win over the Junior Kiwis.[11]

In 2020, Walker joined the Roosters' NRL squad but did not play a single game that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions. In round 15 of the 2020 NRL season, he was included in the Roosters 21-man squad to play the Wests Tigers but was omitted from the side before the game.[12][13]

2021

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On 27 February, Walker played in the Sydney Roosters’ pre-season trial win over the Canberra Raiders, scoring a try.[14][15] He began the 2021 season playing for North Sydney, the Roosters' NSW Cup feeder team.[16]

In round 4 of the 2021 NRL season, Walker made his first-grade debut for the Sydney Roosters against the New Zealand Warriors at the Sydney Cricket Ground, assisting a try and scoring a conversion as his side won 32–12.[17][18] The following week, he scored his first try in the NRL and set up three others in a pivotal performance as the Roosters went from being 4–18 down to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, to mounting a comeback to win 26–18.[19]

In round 14, Walker kicked the winning field goal as the Sydney Roosters defeated the Gold Coast Titans 35–34.[20]

In round 17, with just under 20 seconds left to play, Walker bizarrely ran 90 metres in the opposite direction before running over the sideline as the Sydney Roosters defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 22–16.[21]

In week 1 of the finals, against the Gold Coast Titans, Walker kicked the winning field goal in the 77th minute of the game, as the Roosters went on to win the match 25–24.[22] On 27 September, Walker was named Dally M Rookie of the year.[23]

2022

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In round 18 of the 2022 NRL season, Walker scored one try and kicked nine goals in the Sydney Roosters 54–26 victory over St. George Illawarra.[24] In round 23, Walker kicked twelve goals from twelve attempts in the club's 72–6 victory over the Wests Tigers.[25] Walker played a total of 25 games for the club in the 2022 season and finished as their top point scorer with 211 points. Walker played for the Sydney Roosters in their elimination final loss to South Sydney.[26] On 7 December 2022, Walker signed a two-year contract extension to remain at the Sydney Roosters until the end of the 2025 season.[27]

2023

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Following the Sydney Roosters loss against Cronulla in round 7 of the 2023 NRL season, Walker was demoted to reserve grade. Walker spoke to the media after being demoted saying "I never wanted to get dropped, but I will work as hard as I possibly can to get a spot back in the team". In July, Walker suffered an ACL sprain whilst playing in the NSW Cup and was ruled out for an indefinite period.[28][29] In round 26 of the 2023 NRL season, Walker returned to the Sydney Roosters side in their victory over the Wests Tigers. In the first week of the 2023 finals series, Walker kicked a field goal with three minutes remaining to win the match 13-12 against Cronulla.[30]

2024

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In round 3 of the 2024 NRL season, Walker scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 48-6 victory over arch-rivals South Sydney.[31] In round 22, Walker scored two tries and kicked eight goals in the Sydney Roosters 40-34 victory over the Dolphins.[32] Walker would suffer a season ending knee injury in the Sydney Roosters round 26 loss against Canberra.[33][34] Walker would be ruled out for up to nine months after suffering an ACL tear.[35] On 4 November, the Roosters announced that Walker had re-signed with the club until the end of 2027.[36]

References

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  1. ^ "Career Stats & Summary - Sam Walker". Rugby League Project.
  2. ^ Smith, Peter (4 April 2021). "Leeds-born teenager Sam Walker stars in NRL debut - son of ex-Leeds Rhinos player Ben Walker helps Sydney Roosters to big win over New Zealand Warriors". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  3. ^ Gould, Joel (27 June 2017). "Met West honoured being unbeaten state champs". Queensland Times. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Roosters recruit becomes Australian sport's richest 16-year-old". The Courier Mail. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. ^ Gould, Joel (1 June 2019). "How brekkie with Robinson and Keary inspired Sam Walker". QRL.com.au. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Why Roosters rookie Walker needed a needle to make debut". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 April 2021.
  7. ^ "'Most gifted since Ponga': Roosters beat rugby to sign teen on $300k deal". Wide World of Sports. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Ipswich Jets young gun Sam Walker chats all things footy". QRL. 17 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Queensland Under 18 team named". QRL. 26 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Roosters beat rivals, ARU to sign talented teen half". NRL. 11 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Walker and Howarth shine in Australian Schoolboys big win". NRL. 26 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Stars return for premiers with sons of guns on standby". NRL. 18 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Team Announcement: Round 15". Sydney Roosters. 18 August 2020.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Chris (2 March 2021). "Cronk helps Walker stay on pace despite 18-month layoff". NRL.com. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  15. ^ "NRL 2021: Sam Walker set to sign long-term deal with Sydney Roosters". Courier Mail. 3 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Joseph Suaalii and Sam Walker show class but Cade Cust rules the roost for Blacktown". The Daily Telegraph. 15 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Round 4 team lists". NRL.com. 30 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Morris chasing history after 26-year first in epic try-scoring run to start season". Fox Sports. 5 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Rookie Rooster shines in epic comeback". NRL.com. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Brisbane Broncos' Kobe Hetherington sent off in loss to Canberra Raiders; Roosters and Rabbitohs score wins". ABC News. 12 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Star's big halves switch Roosters must consider; Dog's audition for permanent role: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 10 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Controversial field goal seals epic one-point win as Titans butcher last-gasp chance: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 11 September 2021.
  23. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (27 September 2021). "2021 NRL Dally M Awards Live: Tom Trbojevic crowned NRL's best". News.com.au.
  24. ^ "'What can't he do?': Manu stuns as Roosters shred Dragons; Hunt's 'Johns-like' show — 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 16 July 2022.
  25. ^ "Roosters, Eels and Sharks add pre-finals drubbings to one-sided round of NRL". ABC News. 20 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Robbo switch that woke sleeping giant as full extent of cap crunch laid bare: Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au. 12 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Sharks poach Panthers playmaker; Roosters lock up star half with extension: Transfer Centre". www.foxsports.com.au. 9 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Sam Walker injury: Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson provides positive update on sidelined halfback". www.sportingnews.com. 26 July 2023.
  29. ^ "'We're not going to take a risk': Roosters reveal there's no clear timetable on Walker's return from ACL injury". www.news.com.au.
  30. ^ "Sydney Roosters score 'wild' 13-12 NRL elimination final win over Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers beat Warriors". ABC News. 9 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Souths set for serious 'soul-searching' as Roosters stars run riot in 'total domination': Big hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 22 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Walker masterclass as Roosters escape with thrilling win over Dolphins". www.foxsports.com.au.
  33. ^ McCurty, Andrew (1 September 2024). "'Catastrophic' Sam Walker blow rocks Roosters". news.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  34. ^ "NRL Casualty Ward: Season over for Walker, Smith; Radley fractures shoulder". www.nrl.com.
  35. ^ Chalk, Ethan Lee (2 September 2024). "Worst fears confirmed for Brandon Smith, Sam Walker". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  36. ^ Staff Writer (3 November 2024). "Sam Walker re-commits for two more years". Sydney Roosters. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
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