Sam Walker is committed to Sydney Roosters despite being dropped

[mattyh]

i reckon walker is gone ...sounds like the typical pr interview , i dont know whether it is the right or wrong call .

he has deficiencies in his game that could be ironed out , but i dont think he is going to languish in reserves.

1 general play kicker is a major concern , 2 tiny halves is a major concern , not sure this season will be a champagne popper atm .

just the way i see it.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Keary made a lot of sense talking about Walker being dropped when it first happened. He talked about how because the kid came into first grade so quick and so young he missed spending time to develop his game not only in NSW Cup but even in Flegg or whatever the 18s is now. He's come straight into first grade as a kid, he's playing such a critical position, gone really good at times, but the coaches see some parts of his game that are lacking and are better developed not in first grade.

Makes sense - maybe you could say the same about Suaalii?

Was awesome that in relation to leaving Sam said the words "there's no chance"

He'll be back and he'll be even better.

[Chook2]

Keary made a lot of sense talking about Walker being dropped when it first happened. He talked about how because the kid came into first grade so quick and so young he missed spending time to develop his game not only in NSW Cup but even in Flegg or whatever the 18s is now. He's come straight into first grade as a kid, he's playing such a critical position, gone really good at times, but the coaches see some parts of his game that are lacking and are better developed not in first grade.

Makes sense - maybe you could say the same about Suaalii?

Was awesome that in relation to leaving Sam said the words "there's no chance"

He'll be back and he'll be even better.

This is very true
so often top players miss a year or two playing under 20s or reserves and thrust straight into 1st grade
they learn to survive and sometimes dominate but also miss a year or two of learning and improving their game list learning to survive against the big boys
with keary a head knock or injury away from retiring and May next year anyway I hope we don’t loose Walker then keary goes next year anyway leaving us with no kicker as sualli is also gone
Walker seems to be the scapegoat for the whole team playing avergae to start the year
now players are coming back it’s amazing seeing how quickly radley and the butcher Brothers have turned their season around

it’s been said here before with sualli
he is a right side player carrying the ball on the right and dominating the ball Carries on the wing, he is playing on the left and can’t step, hold the ball in the left and use a palm, he looks so one dimensional and confused in defence
physically he is fine for first grade but still getting found out multiple times

[Tommy Smith]

he won't leave before 2025 if we don't want him to leave.
maybe hutch plays at centre this weekend but there's a good chance he won't, but even if he does i don't think robbo is saying that hutch is a better player than walker and that our indifferent start to the season is sam's fault at all! robbo's playing the long game

Robbo sometimes plays the long game sooo looong that he leaves it too late - ala last year.

Tbh I find the adage of "the long game" akin to political spin to excuse early season losses to trash teams like the Knights, Bulldogs and Dragons (2022) and Dolphins (2023).

[player 1]

In the meantime, I'm excited about the prospect of Joey developing as a 5/8. He has size, speed, a step and a pass, and ferocious will to get over the line. He defends better as a 5/8 then as a centre. What's not to like? Haven't seen a real kicking game from him yet - surely with his size and power he has some kind of boot on him?

I reckon Robbo is smarter than a lot on here are giving credit for. Even the hutchinator - some of the vitriol is so over the top.

We just can't have 2 tiny halves - and grooming Joey at 6 may just keep him at the club long term. And the long term may be a Walker/Manu halves combo.

[Rooster90]

In the meantime, I'm excited about the prospect of Joey developing as a 5/8. He has size, speed, a step and a pass, and ferocious will to get over the line. He defends better as a 5/8 then as a centre. What's not to like? Haven't seen a real kicking game from him yet - surely with his size and power he has some kind of boot on him?

I reckon Robbo is smarter than a lot on here are giving credit for. Even the hutchinator - some of the vitriol is so over the top.

We just can't have 2 tiny halves - and grooming Joey at 6 may just keep him at the club long term. And the long term may be a Walker/Manu halves combo.

I'm also expecting we see Manu defend at Centre this week and Hutch at 5/8

[player 1]

I'm also expecting we see Manu defend at Centre this week and Hutch at 5/8

Great idea!!

[zac]

Robbo sometimes plays the long game sooo looong that he leaves it too late - ala last year.

Tbh I find the adage of "the long game" akin to political spin to excuse early season losses to trash teams like the Knights, Bulldogs and Dragons (2022) and Dolphins (2023).

haha - losing the faith tommy?

[Tommy Smith]

haha - losing the faith tommy?

I just view 2023 as absolutely nothing like 2018. Even after a slow start that year I was super confident we'd find our stride and win the comp. There was a clear plan and progression.

But when you change your halfback after just 6 weeks it says to me that you had a plan and in your eyes it was failing miserably. That's very early to be adjusting on the fly and coming up with a plan b.

I'm not sure when that ever turns out to be successful.

The talent is clearly there. Its the best roster in the NRL. Which makes our outrageous lack of cohesion all the more frustrating. Manu is playing like the biggest and best player in U10s out there. And the errors are just relentless .

Imo Robbo clearly doesn't know what his best team is which is hugely concerning even at this stage. Every other contender knows who they are.

Souffs could execute their plays in their sleep. The Storm continue to be a well oiled machine who pummeled us. Penrith will be just fine. They'll all be there where as we are an enigma. It might all come together beautifully come finals but its hard to have faith in that happening when the coach doesn't have faith in his plan A achieving our goals.

[Water boy]

What would be your plan then for his development ?

a different coach

[Recky62]

near as I can tell, the only bloke not complaining about Walker being dropped is Sammy ....Ive no doubt he'll come good , they just gotta stop him and Keary being identical , how that happens eludes me, anyway, back in the day , blokes were getting dropped to reserves and under 23s for having shit games and the media didnt go ****ing mental , how life has changed

[OMR]

near as I can tell, the only bloke not complaining about Walker being dropped is Sammy ....Ive no doubt he'll come good , they just gotta stop him and Keary being identical , how that happens eludes me, anyway, back in the day , blokes were getting dropped to reserves and under 23s for having shit games and the media didnt go ****ing mental , how life has changed

It’s the new age of entitlement. Some players think just because they made first grade they’re entitled to be there forever. An honest appraisal of their form my suggest otherwise.
As far as Walker goes, he has struggled a bit but on the other hand his defense had improved heaps. His choices at end of sets are sometimes puzzling, but Keary is just as bad sometimes on the last tackle, but he has runs on the board and is given much more latitude.
I hope Walker stays on as a 12-15 year player at the roosters as I can see how much talent he has, it’s just a matter of polishing that raw talent into something more cohesive to the team, and end up a 4 time premiership winner and captain at the roosters .

[Maxy Walker]

I just view 2023 as absolutely nothing like 2018. Even after a slow start that year I was super confident we'd find our stride and win the comp. There was a clear plan and progression.

But when you change your halfback after just 6 weeks it says to me that you had a plan and in your eyes it was failing miserably. That's very early to be adjusting on the fly and coming up with a plan b.

I'm not sure when that ever turns out to be successful.

The talent is clearly there. Its the best roster in the NRL. Which makes our outrageous lack of cohesion all the more frustrating. Manu is playing like the biggest and best player in U10s out there. And the errors are just relentless .

Imo Robbo clearly doesn't know what his best team is which is hugely concerning even at this stage. Every other contender knows who they are.

Souffs could execute their plays in their sleep. The Storm continue to be a well oiled machine who pummeled us. Penrith will be just fine. They'll all be there where as we are an enigma. It might all come together beautifully come finals but its hard to have faith in that happening when the coach doesn't have faith in his plan A achieving our goals.

Thats quite a glass half empty view for a team thats running 5th, has beaten souths and are ahead of penrith and on the same number of wins as the storm.

[Thirteen]

Thats quite a glass half empty view for a team thats running 5th, has beaten souths and are ahead of penrith and on the same number of wins as the storm.

I assume Tommy has high expectations based on the brilliant squad we have and why shouldn’t he?

We should be blowing teams off the park.

[King Salvo]

a different coach

Well it is very fortunate that you have no say on anything football related at the Roosters if that is your only plan