Gus and Sam To Extend

[RoosterFanNZ]

Yeah a Tele article titled 'Why Sam Walker chose Roosters over rival clubs' (I don't have access but read the description) says:

...it was the teenager's belief that Roosters coach Trent Robinson would allow him to express his natural ability, rather than dumb it down, that resulted in his arrival at the club from the Broncos as a 16-year-old...

Guess you just get a vibe about coaches? The Broncos are pretty shyte at the moment too. Maybe he got the feeling they were pretty clueless/directionless and disagreed with some of the coaching staff who were gonna take him forward if he stayed?

Given his father and uncle played for Souths, it prompted one family member to offer: “His dad finished at Souths, Sam was a bit of an oppositional child, so he wanted to support the club Souths hated the most.”


The cynics will say Walker signed with the Roosters ahead of other clubs, including the Broncos, purely for money. He reportedly signed a two-year deal at 16 worth $300,000.

In truth, he’d been a Roosters fan since he was a young boy, falling in love with them when Ben woke him up to watch the thrilling final moments of the Roosters’ qualifying final against the Wests Tigers in 2010.

From then on, Walker had team photos on his bedroom wall and begged for a Roosters jumper, much to the bemusement of his father, a former Bronco.


In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail on the eve of his NRL debut, Walker says he has no bad blood with the Broncos, but felt the Roosters environment could help him best succeed as a young playmaker.

“It wasn’t too hard a decision (to leave the Broncos and sign with the Roosters) to be honest,” Walker said.

“I wanted to go to a club where I could play my best football. I felt there were people at the Roosters, like Trent Robinson, who were there to support me.

“I followed the Roosters since I was seven or eight so it’s surreal to think I’m now at the club.

“I remember watching one game where the Rabbitohs beat the Roosters on the siren and I had a massive sook, I ran to my room and flipped my Roosters flag hanging on my wall the other way. I was filthy.


A young Sam Walker in Roosters gear with dad Ben.


Just a few things I found in the DT and SMH articles about why he supported the roosters

[Rooster_6]

A little concerning that he hasn't re-signed yet.

The Broncos just lost Dearden and have Milford off contract. They could easily throw a million per season his way.

Talking about supporting the club, loving the coach and wanting to stay is great but not many have been able to resist a 7 figure deal.

[BigCok007]

A little concerning that he hasn't re-signed yet.

The Broncos just lost Dearden and have Milford off contract. They could easily throw a million per season his way.

Talking about supporting the club, loving the coach and wanting to stay is great but not many have been able to resist a 7 figure deal.

Sam doesn’t want to sign anywhere else. It’s just finer points they’re working out atm no doubt. The kid is a superstar, let hope he keeps playing RWB!!

[Cockadoodledoo]

A little concerning that he hasn't re-signed yet.

The Broncos just lost Dearden and have Milford off contract. They could easily throw a million per season his way.

Talking about supporting the club, loving the coach and wanting to stay is great but not many have been able to resist a 7 figure deal.

I wouldn’t worry about Walker going to the Broncos. It would be a potential career killer with Walters as coach and an awful roster.

[ROC181]

I wouldn’t worry about Walker going to the Broncos. It would be a potential career killer with Walters as coach and an awful roster.

As part of the deal, The Cowboys are offering Dearden unlimited sessions of counselling to deal with the aftermath of his broncos experience. Walker has already experienced the Broncos ways, and he won’t be going back for more.

[zac]

A little concerning that he hasn't re-signed yet.

The Broncos just lost Dearden and have Milford off contract. They could easily throw a million per season his way.

Talking about supporting the club, loving the coach and wanting to stay is great but not many have been able to resist a 7 figure deal.

if he re-signs as expected hard to see how it will be for just 1m over 3 years as was talked about a month ago

[ROC181]

Sams next contract will be for a realistic value at a successful club like ours. He will not only improve his skills, be well looked after and achieve success. If he wants to get rich at a club like the broncos, then all he'll end up is to be the next Milford and have the pressure of trying to get that rubbish club out of that hole they made for themselves. He'll end up being a basket case.

[Spirit of 66]

I wouldn’t worry about Walker going to the Broncos. It would be a potential career killer with Walters as coach and an awful roster.

Yes, you can imagine the Broncos' sales pitch: "Come here and you could be the next Brody Croft!"

[milanja]

Roger loved the club, Latrell said he is a rooster going nowhere, money talks, and the kid can literally have his pick to play at any club in the nrl with the lack of top halves in the game at the moment.

would be great to see him and keary for a few years though.

[BUDDY]

If an 18 year old can grab a $300K per year contract then he is going well and likely to get an upgrade at some point anyway.
But no doubt he knows that with his following contract that Keary will probably be gone and he will be the main man and will get his million dollar pay day. Not a long time to wait.
In the mean time learn from the best to be the best you can be.

[ROC181]

So did anyone watch NRL360 with Hoopers ‘Breaking News’ that ‘the Roosters are tabling a 5 year deal for Sam Walker, which is not what the Roosters normally do but they see him a worth while deal’ or something to that extent.

Take it how you wish!

[zac]

So did anyone watch NRL360 with Hoopers ‘Breaking News’ that ‘the Roosters are tabling a 5 year deal for Sam Walker, which is not what the Roosters normally do but they see him a worth while deal’ or something to that extent.

Take it how you wish!

i wish that's true, big back ended deal. also not what we normally do but sw looks the goods

[BUDDY]

So did anyone watch NRL360 with Hoopers ‘Breaking News’ that ‘the Roosters are tabling a 5 year deal for Sam Walker, which is not what the Roosters normally do but they see him a worth while deal’ or something to that extent.

Take it how you wish!

Have any of Hooper's exclusives ever come true?

But it would be great if he fluked this one.

Either way if he signs for 3 years now I am confident he will be a long term player especially as the main man once Keary finishes up.

[ROC181]

Have any of Hooper's exclusives ever come true?

But it would be great if he fluked this one.

Well let’s see, Sam’s father is Ben who is very good mates with Ben Ikin who were all together at the game yesterday kicking back while Hooper was working on the ground but also works together with Ikin on NRL 360...So who knows maybe Sam told Ben, who told Ben who threw a bone to Hooper = Breaking News!

[zac]

for me something close to 3m for 5 years seems about right with something just under 1m for years 4 and 5 when keary is gone. (if keary follows thru on his decision to retire after 2024).