Walker dropped

[Lydon]

I think a stint in reserves could do him the world of good. Gives him some time and freedom to trial and error.

I love Sam Walker but I hope he's there for a couple of months working on his game. Primed for a return after SOO.

Hope you’re right R6..

Sammy is a talent and it’s a shame that he has to miss out on such a prestigious game on Tuesday against the Dragons, where he has excelled in previous years!

[zac]

i've got no doubt robbo and cronk are in his corner and see this as part of his development. not just his development - we want to win first grade games so robbo won't sacrifice that goal for the development of a player - but he's very much in the roosters long term plans. it's probably a card you can only play once in a future star's career but it worked alright for latrell and joey. sammy will play a week or two in reserves - maybe only one week - and the world won't end

[Serenader]

From the look of the footage Nick, Robbo and the coaching staff all headed out to watch Walker play in reserve grade today.

[Rooster_6]

Hope you’re right R6..

Sammy is a talent and it’s a shame that he has to miss out on such a prestigious game on Tuesday against the Dragons, where he has excelled in previous years!

When you think of nearly all the great halves of the past few decades very few of them were playing in the halves from their teenage years onwards.

Freddy Fittler - played more lock & centre in his first several years before becoming a regular half in 1998 at the age of 26.

Jonathan Thurston - Played as a bench utility, didn’t get regular time as a half until 2005 when he was 22 and even then he continued to switch from 5/8 to halfback for the next 2 years until he finally settled as a halfback in 2007 at age 24.

Darren Lockyer - A fullback until 2004 when he was 27 years old and made the switch into the halves.

Cooper Cronk - Was a bench utility until 2006 when at 23yrs of age he got the keys to the halfback role at Melbourne Storm.

Daly Cherry-Evans - Didn’t even debut in the NRL until he was 22, he was a Toyota Cup superstar stuck behind Trent Hodkinson so he went and played QLD Cup for Sunshine Coast and tore up.

I think there’s a lot to be said about rugby league experience, life experience and age when it comes to be a successful half. At this point of his career, Sam Walkers only experience of playing senior Rugby Legaue is in first grade and in the halves. I think the more experiences he gets opened up to the better player he’s going to be. Can you imagine trying to get better at your job in your first few years whilst a few hundred thousand people watch on and critique your every single move?

I think Bellamy does it the best… Cooper Cronk, Cam Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Nicho Hynes - none of these guys were halves in the juniors. None of these guys started off as halves in first grade and all of them have had a non-conventional education to half play but they figured it out along the way.

[King Salvo]

Mate your either Robbo , Hutch or one of their mothers. Sometimes you do defend the indefensible. Sam has be one off our best in a pretty average bunch .What possible reason could it be the correct decision.

As I said above People need to look at things holistically and take out the emotional attachment they may have for a player.

I think Coach Robinson explained it succinctly

The change had to be made - Keary's stats meant it wasn't going to be him being relegated from the underperforming spine and of course neither were Tedesco or B Smith

The problem they have is two similar halves and no one taking control such is the case with other teams who have a dominant half in their halves combo's. i.e - Penrith (Cleary) . Broncos (Reynolds) . Parramatta (Moses) , Manly (DCE) , Sharks (Hyne) . Warriors (Johnson)

Their Dummy Halves have a clear mind in who the dominant half is in their half combo and whom to pass to when required - What is B Smith's thought and decision making process in whom to pass to if both Keary and Walker want the ball as first receipts as neither are seen as the dominant half in that halves combo.

Walker needs to add more to the offense side of his game - A controlling and organising aspect and to become the dominant half in the halves combo- too late for Keary to change and Walker at 20 has the time to add this to his game but of course will need to work on it as it won't happen overnight.

If it is considered that Walker won't be a controlling and organising half or be able to add this to his game then either the 5/8 or 1/2 depending on what position he plays will need to be this.

Unfortunately for Walker he had a fast tracked apprenticeship and was elevated to NRL level before one can say he was NRL ready - People do forget who is 5/8 was though in 2021.

Players should always watch games and especially younger players to see both how their opponent as a team and their position opponent plays - strengths and weaknesses etc and also for things they could possibly add to their game

[King Salvo]

Roosters lose to Dragons coming 2nd last.

Dragons won their first game in NSW Cup in round 6 beating North Sydney Bears 26-12

[Rooster1908]

As I said above People need to look at things holistically and take out the emotional attachment they may have for a player.

I think Coach Robinson explained it succinctly

The change had to be made - Keary's stats meant it wasn't going to be him being relegated from the underperforming spine and of course neither were Tedesco or B Smith

The problem they have is two similar halves and no one taking control such is the case with other teams who have a dominant half in their halves combo's. i.e - Penrith (Cleary) . Broncos (Reynolds) . Parramatta (Moses) , Manly (DCE) , Sharks (Hyne) . Warriors (Johnson)

Their Dummy Halves have a clear mind in who the dominant half is in their half combo and whom to pass to when required - What is B Smith's thought and decision making process in whom to pass to if both Keary and Walker want the ball as first receipts as neither are seen as the dominant half in that halves combo.

Walker needs to add more to the offense side of his game - A controlling and organising aspect and to become the dominant half in the halves combo- too late for Keary to change and Walker at 20 has the time to add this to his game but of course will need to work on it as it won't happen overnight.

If it is considered that Walker won't be a controlling and organising half or be able to add this to his game then either the 5/8 or 1/2 depending on what position he plays will need to be this.

Unfortunately for Walker he had a fast tracked apprenticeship and was elevated to NRL level before one can say he was NRL ready - People do forget who is 5/8 was though in 2021.

Players should always watch games and especially younger players to see both how their opponent as a team and their position opponent plays - strengths and weaknesses etc and also for things they could possibly add to their game

Agreed they rushed him .Robbos not Sams fault . Just hope this doesn't stuff his confidence.

[King Salvo]

Agreed they rushed him .Robbos not Sams fault . Just hope this doesn't stuff his confidence.

Not sure why it was Robbo's fault - Keary going down for the season and Lam for 6 or so weeks in the same game forced this fast tracking - Walker coming in at half and Chookpen favourite the Hutchinator at 5/8

I am sure the plan was for Walker to play NSW Cup and maybe some NRL games later in the season

No one except me mentions or acknowledges the steadying influence of the Hutchinator on Walkers game in his early NRL career in 2021.

Haters gonna hate as they say

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I think a stint in reserves could do him the world of good. Gives him some time and freedom to trial and error.

I love Sam Walker but I hope he's there for a couple of months working on his game. Primed for a return after SOO.

He wont be back anytime soon judging on todays dig. However he could turn that around quickly, and hope he does.

[bondi.boy]

Well those types of players would not be tolerated at most or any club.

It's not a popularity contest in picking a 17 each week - just because people like a player it doesn't mean they should be selected each week if their form doesn't warrant such selection.

We only have access to limited team and player stats that clubs use to assess and review team and individual player performances post game.

I certainly understand the reasoning behind Coach Robinson's decision from only the limited stats we are privy too

People need to look at things holistically and take out the emotional attachment they may have for a player.

Even from the limited stats for Walker - He is doing more general field kicking/ making more tackles and running less - last 3 games especially

Average Kicking Metres per game

Walker

2022 - 197 Metres
2023 - 360 Metres

Keary

2022 - 259.51
2023 - 139.97

Defense - average tackles per game

Walker

2022 - 15
2023 - 23

Dolphins - 18
Warriors - 25
Souths - 14
Parramatta - 27
Storm - 23
Cronulla - 30

Keary

2022 - 18
2023 - 21

Dolphins - 10
Warriors - 23
Souths - 31
Parramatta - 20
Storm - 26
Sharks - 20

Average Running Metres per game

Walker

2022- 68

2023 - 64

Dolphins - 135
Warriors - 110
Souths - 47
Parramatta - 28
Storm - 35
Sharks - 31

Keary

2022 - 67

2023 - 82

Dolphins - 110
Warriors - 62
Souths - 77
Parramatta - 131
Storm - 76
Sharks - 45


Walker has 3 parts to his game at least that he needs to keep improving on- Running , Kicking and Defense

I assume the offense part of his game is the concern for Coach Robinson as average running metres have been down the past 3 games - 4 if you include the Souths game-

Walker also needs to incorporate an organising and controlling role into his game

"I felt like he needed time to work on two things. I want him to run our system completely in reserve grade and free himself to find parts of his game that he has always had," Robinson said.

"I wanted him to go and rediscover that. The path to freedom is playing through your system.

The question will also be can you have 2 similar halves playing together and how do they gel as a unit - who the senior half - i.e who calls the shots or is this role shared etc

Be confusing for the dummy half in knowing who to pass to as well

Certainly easier to define the roles when you have a controlling and organising half and a running half as your half combination and easier for the dummy half too.

Did the coach define who was the organising half and who was the running half?
Did he tell everyone?

The main problem with the team is not all Walker...how is he supposed to organise anything when the team never has the ball for long before losing it with mistakes, dumb penalties etc?
Did all the players know Sam was the general, their boss, telling them all what would be happening?
Sam tried that running and doing chip kicks and grubbers...scored a try or made a try...only to be yelled expletive-laden abuse at by two senior players.

The problems with the team are:

1. The forwards are too small, too light...get run over.
2. Tries are being scored past our current right winger, one against Sharks.
3. Manu rushing out of the defensive line...also gave away a "marker not square" penalty against Sharks..
4. A try was scored down our left side, Toops fell for a dummy and where were Suaalii and others on the left?
5. In attack most of the time we try to barge thru the forwards instead of passing the ball out wide.
6. We're incapable of passing the ball from one side of the field to the other, instead we just die with it in the middle, the opportunities to capitalise on overlaps lost.
7. We seem to have forgotten how to run the ball on the fifth.

Why did we sign Sam Walker, encourage him, lead him to believe he'd be our first grade half ...and only now decide his defence is not good enough and punt him to NSW Cup?
We signed him, he was super skinny, super light.

[Eggspert]

Dragons won their first game in NSW Cup in round 6 beating North Sydney Bears 26-12

Hmmm is this an omen for Tuesday?

Feeling calm & confident about this game.

But then again had the same feeling for Dolphins & Sharks.

[Eggspert]

I think a stint in reserves could do him the world of good. Gives him some time and freedom to trial and error.

I love Sam Walker but I hope he's there for a couple of months working on his game. Primed for a return after SOO.

Couple of months?!

Sammy is bit of a scapegoat here & will be back within 4 games if we are serious about making top 4.

[milanja]

Couple of months?!

Sammy is bit of a scapegoat here & will be back within 4 games if we are serious about making top 4.

To give their decision any weight, it would have to be a minimum of 4 weeks.

will become a big problem if we somehow lose our next couple games, and Walker is forced back before his predetermined time is up,will make everybody look foolish.

fingers crossed for a few wins to justify the decision and keep the media at bay.

[bondi.boy]

He wont be back anytime soon judging on todays dig. However he could turn that around quickly, and hope he does.

Me, I'd just run around in NSW Cup, take the money, do no more than I had to, improve my skills, put on weight/muscle, then sign somewhere else when my contract was up.
But then that's me, I'm like that.
No players there to support him?
Maybe they all want him gone, maybe they were just enjoying Sunday away from footy.

My first boss, on my first day in the workforce aged 18:

"Look after yourself first in this world, son...because nobody else will".

[Rooster_6]

Couple of months?!

Sammy is bit of a scapegoat here & will be back within 4 games if we are serious about making top 4.

Robinson isn’t looking for a scapegoat, he never has. This is about Walker’s development and there’s got to be an element of patience with that.