NRL: Roosters Sam Walker saga leaves Cooper Cronk caught in the middle
Tensions are running high at the Roosters and NRL legend Cooper Cronk is reportedly at the centre of the swirling drama.
The former Melbourne Storm champion has found himself the target of concerns raised by people close to Sam Walker after the playmaker was sensationally dropped by coach Trent Robinson this week.
The Roosters left NRL commentators “shocked” with their snap decision to axe the 20-year-old prodigy for the Anzac Day blockbuster.
Instead, the Roosters have moved centre Joseph Manu to five-eighth and Luke Keary from No. 6 to No. 7.
It emerged on Wednesday family members close to Walker have reportedly told officials at the Roosters they aren’t happy with the club's plans of attack this year.
Coaching consultant Cronk has been instrumental in coaching the team’s halves in recent years and has helped form the plans behind the team’s attack, which has badly misfired this year.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Cronk and Walker’s family are at odds over the plans to base their attack on set structures, rather than instinctive flair that best suits Walker’s strengths as a player.
The report claims people close to Walker had concerns about the direction the club’s attacking systems were heading in as far back as pre-season training.
Walker has reportedly never communicated any concerns with Cronk or the club, despite the suggestions he is not happy.
Cronk has continued to cement his reputation for being one of the sharpest minds in rugby league through his work as an expert commentator with Fox League and his signing as a specialist coach was viewed as a coup for the Roosters in 2020.
Walker is the son of former Broncos halfback Ben Walker and nephew of former Queensland Origin speedster Chris Walker. The brothers coach Ipswich in the Queensland Cup and have attracted plenty of praise for their innovative and bold coaching moves.
The situation took another massive twist on Wednesday night with Fox League’s James Hooper revealing rival clubs are monitoring the situation surrounding Walker’s future, despite the 2021 Dally M Rookie of the Year recently extending his playing contract through to the end of the 2025 season.
The Roosters’ failure to be able to score points has been one of the most perplexing situations around the NRL this year with the club boasting the most dangerous backline in the league. After suffering two straight losses to the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks, the club had to do something and Robinson made the dramatic move on Tuesday.
The pre-season premiership favourites are 3-3 for the season, having also had one of their byes to sit ninth on the NRL ladder.
Rugby league great Laurie Daley said on Wednesday the call to dump Walker is fraught with risk as the club looks to find a spark.
He said the club is now reliant on Keary to be the club’s only experienced kicker with hooker Brandon Smith and Manu rarely called on to kick in-play.
He said some players can also drop their head after being axed and can take some time to fight their way back into the starting squad. He does not believe Walker will walk around kicking stones.
“He hasn’t been playing well, but neither has the team,” Daley said on Sky Sports Radio.
“They’re doing something to try and get a reaction and they’re trying to find their mojo. The Roosters at full strength and to win a comp, Sam Walker will be in that team.
“I think they’re just giving him some time to go away and get some confidence back and then be brought back into the team. They’re trying to find ways to get Manu into the contest as well because he was off last week as well.”
Remarkably, after six matches, the Roosters have scored only 106 points at an average of 17.7 points per game, which is good enough for only 13th in the NRL.
