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Rugby Australia miss out on signing most 'gifted teen since Ponga'
By Online Editors
Rugby Australia has missed out on one of Australia's rising dual-code talents, with 16 year-old teen Sam Walker set to sign with NRL club Sydney Roosters.
Walker was the most sought after youngster in the NRL and was courted by several clubs and Rugby Australia but it's understood he has penned a two-year deal with the Roosters.
The gifted playmaker plays rugby league for the Ipswich Jets and rugby union for his school Ipswich Grammar, although was already on a development deal with the Brisbane Broncos.
He has been touted as the most gifted player to emerge since Kalyn Ponga, who also played rugby union in high school, and will be eligible to play first-grade midway through next year.
"People have compared him to Kalyn Ponga but he plays differently to Ponga, Sam is pretty unique in his style," his uncle Shane Walker told News Corp.
"He reads play really well, he has a high football IQ for a kid so young and it comes back to his environment, he’s been around football since his earliest years.
"Sam can identify weaknesses in the opposition very quickly, even his kicking style and the way he moves is different to any young halfback I’ve seen.
"There’s no reason that Sam can’t have a long career in the NRL, but he needs to put the hard work in and keep on improving."
He last week guided the Queensland under-18s to a win over NSW in a State of Origin curtain-raiser at Suncorp Stadium.
He recently met with Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Luke Keary, who he looks set to partner in the halves when Cronk retires at the end of 2019.
"It was really good to sit down and learn. Trent Robinson is the first head (NRL) coach to speak to me about the way I play and I picked up little tips," Walker told QRL.com earlier in the month.
"Trent is the best coach in the NRL at the moment and it is good to hear from the best. I’ve only ever had my dad and uncle (Shane) correct my game and encourage me how to play, so it was really good to hear his thoughts on how I can become a better player, because I am always learning at the moment.
"I am turning 17 very soon and I know I need to get better and improve."
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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