NRL teams: Sam Walker dropped by Roosters, commentators shocked

The Roosters left NRL commentators “shocked” with their snap decision to axe star playmaker Sam Walker.

The club dropped a bombshell when announcing their team for their Anzac Day blockbuster against the Dragons with coach Trent Robinson making the bold call to send Walker to reserve grade.

Instead, the Roosters will move centre Joseph Manu to five-eighth and Luke Keary from No. 6 to No. 7.

After suffering two straight losses to the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks, Robinson swung the axe on the 20-year-old prodigy.

Walker has been with the Roosters since 2019 when he signed a deal worth a reported $300,000 at the age of 16.

The son of former Broncos halfback Ben Walker and nephew of former Queensland Origin speedster Chris Walker, Sam debuted in 2021, with that season’s Dally M Rookie of the Year gong and has since become the Roosters’ No. 1 goalkicker.

He also re-signed with the Roosters until 2025 late last year. There has even been talk he could crack the Origin arena for Queensland in coming seasons.

But 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 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.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie said he was surprised Robinson has taken such “drastic action”.

“I was shocked. I was shocked,” he said.

“I’ve watched Sam Waker reasonably closely the last few weeks and he hasn’t been playing incredibly well.

“I was still surprised the Roosters took such a drastic step to drop him.”

The club is still second in premiership betting behind the Panthers.

The Roosters have been struggling to get going in 2023 with Walker having only delivered two try assists in his six games this season.

However, only Keary with four try assists and Joseph Suaalii and James Tedesco with three a piece have laid on multiple tries for the Roosters.

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.

However, in good news for the Roosters, Angus Crichton is set make his season debut after missing the start of the year getting treatment following his bipolar disorder diagnosis.