Sam Walker has at all times been a halfback who excels on the huge performs.
Match-winning discipline targets in finals matches? He is acquired two of them.
Lengthy reduce out passes that appear to hold within the air eternally earlier than touchdown simply the place they should? He is your man.
An attacking kick early within the deal with rely? You already know he’ll pull the set off, no questions requested.
When he performs quick and straight and his instincts meet along with his coaching, fantastic issues can occur.
Within the Roosters’ 60-18 Anzac Day win over St George Illawarra there was simply such a second earlier than half-time, an audacious chip and chase contained in the pink zone ought to have ended with Walker scoring an excellent attempt that blew the sport huge open.
It did not fairly occur that approach – Dragons utility Nu Brown took out Walker’s legs and a penalty attempt was awarded as a substitute – however it was nonetheless a flash that reveals all the things in regards to the younger halfback’s recreation that may be exhilarating.
He was in that form of temper all day because the Roosters appeared slightly extra just like the staff they’re imagined to be. They had been quick and highly effective and direct in a approach they’ve solely often been in 2024.
Walker was on the coronary heart of a lot they did effectively. It wasn’t simply the penalty attempt or the ten targets from as many makes an attempt, or the sharp kicks for Joseph Manu and Nat Butcher’s tries and even the three drop outs he compelled, though these had been all hallmarks of the Tricolours’ success.
It was additionally how he stored the facet’s assault straight and direct, a vital factor for the Roosters in the event that they’re to unlock their many presents, and the best way he performed with great power, particularly in defence.
For all his attacking sharpness, coach Trent Robinson will little question spotlight a pair of tackles simply earlier than half-time, one in cowl on Tyrell Sloan and a second on Kyle Flanagan moments later to drive a turnover, in the course of the week.
It should not be a shock to see Walker do all these items and look so harmful and appear as if the one limits on what he can do with the ball is his personal creativeness.
It has been that approach since his early days in first grade however sustaining these moments has not at all times been simple for Walker. You’ll be able to hint the road of his profession and its peaks and valleys by these Anzac Day video games.
His first one got here in simply his fourth NRL recreation again in 2021 and he was breathtaking, scoring a attempt to establishing 5 extra in a 34-10 rout.
The next 12 months he was outfoxed by the wily Ben Hunt, a participant of imperfect craft however indomitable spirit, because the highly-fancied Roosters short-circuited in a 14-12 boilover.
Final season he did not even play in essential recreation – he was working round at Wentworth Park for the Tricolours’ NSW Cup facet as a part of a stint in reserve grade.
None of this inconsistency is deadly for Walker. It isn’t even an issue. Most younger halves undergo comparable patterns as a result of improvement is never a linear course of.
Though he is in his fourth 12 months of first grade he is nonetheless simply 21. There’s nonetheless a lot time and actually, he is solely simply getting began.
Halfbacks are hitting their prime later and later of their careers, which is smart for those who cease seeing them as Messiahs and extra as males – something will get simpler the extra typically you do it, even steering rugby league groups across the park.
The issue is there isn’t a time to attend. The Roosters are a facet seemingly constructed for perpetual success. Their star energy calls for outcomes now – not tomorrow, not subsequent 12 months, now.
They had been imposing towards the Dragons, as they’ve been on events this 12 months, however there have been a number of lapses by their marketing campaign to the purpose the strain was beginning to construct slightly.
In the event you comply with some wonky rugby league logic you may twist their inconsistency right into a measure of Walker’s significance to the staff.
He missed many of the match towards the Bulldogs resulting from an HIA, which additionally stored him out of final week’s loss to Melbourne. This recreation was his return and the staff appeared much better for his presence.
The staff faces the identical problem as their halfback – how do they grasp their many presents, how do they channel the verve they’ll play with and their penchant for moments of brilliance into one thing sustainable and repeatable?
Can Walker have a recreation with no huge performs however loads of small ones? The form of recreation the place there is not any magic on the spotlight reel however the place his fingerprints are throughout? He can pores and skin a staff alive if he is acquired a pointy knife, can he pull them aside if his blade loses it is edge?
For a participant as younger as Walker, that is a part of rising up. For a complete facet, it may be maddening course of. The basis of each ideas is similar – how are you going to see what they did towards the Dragons and never need extra of it?
A win of this magnitude on this type will ship the horses working as a result of typically it feels as if your entire league is ready for the Roosters to return to the heights they loved of their premiership years of 2018 and 2019.
However this has occurred earlier than, for Walker and his facet. There have been loads of occasions over the previous 4 seasons once they have loved wins similar to this one, the place Walker appears limitless and his staff flies together with him, just for issues to fall flat shortly thereafter.
Subsequent week the Roosters head to Brisbane to tackle the Broncos, one of many competitors’s true giants. For the Roosters, and Walker, to take care of the league’s stand-out groups they will want to use all their talent and energy and spirit they usually’ll have to do it for each single minute.
It is a true take a look at of their mettle, a rematch of their season opener in Las Vegas the place the Roosters scored a formidable win they’ve didn’t match since and it wasn’t huge performs that acquired it finished, for Walker or his facet, however a complete lot of little ones.
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