Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base.
With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months.
The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance.
Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass.
His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers.
It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle.
Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
15 hours ago
- The Age
Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base. With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months. The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance. Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass. His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers. It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle. Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base. With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months. The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance. Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass. His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers. It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle. Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Third ACL heartbreak for luckless Richmond youngster
Richmond youngster Judson Clarke has suffered more injury heartbreak after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the third time. Clarke suffered the latest setback playing in the VFL on Saturday - a cruel blow just as he was on the cusp of an AFL recall. The 21-year-old was playing his sixth game back after tearing his ACL for a second time in April last year He first tore the ACL in his right knee in 2019 - two years before he was snared by Richmond with pick No.30 in the 2021 national draft. Clarke kicked 11 goals for Richmond across 13 games in 2023, before his 2024 campaign was cruelled early by his second ACL tear. The skilful left-footer re-signed with Richmond until the end of 2026 just last month, and he impressed with two goals from 27 disposals in the VFL last week. But his AFL career now hangs in the balance following his latest setback. "Judson is a great character and has worked so hard behind the scenes to get himself back playing football and into fantastic form," Richmond's general manager of football Tim Livingstone said. "This is such an unfortunate setback for Judson, and we are all so disappointed that he will not be on the field for a little while. "He will have the support of everyone at Richmond to come back again from this, and we know he will give it his all." Fellow Tiger Campbell Gray, a mid-season draftee from last year who has been playing as a key back, has a posterolateral knee injury that does not require surgery. He is expected to miss some football, with a timeline for his injury to be clearer in the coming days. Richmond youngster Judson Clarke has suffered more injury heartbreak after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the third time. Clarke suffered the latest setback playing in the VFL on Saturday - a cruel blow just as he was on the cusp of an AFL recall. The 21-year-old was playing his sixth game back after tearing his ACL for a second time in April last year He first tore the ACL in his right knee in 2019 - two years before he was snared by Richmond with pick No.30 in the 2021 national draft. Clarke kicked 11 goals for Richmond across 13 games in 2023, before his 2024 campaign was cruelled early by his second ACL tear. The skilful left-footer re-signed with Richmond until the end of 2026 just last month, and he impressed with two goals from 27 disposals in the VFL last week. But his AFL career now hangs in the balance following his latest setback. "Judson is a great character and has worked so hard behind the scenes to get himself back playing football and into fantastic form," Richmond's general manager of football Tim Livingstone said. "This is such an unfortunate setback for Judson, and we are all so disappointed that he will not be on the field for a little while. "He will have the support of everyone at Richmond to come back again from this, and we know he will give it his all." Fellow Tiger Campbell Gray, a mid-season draftee from last year who has been playing as a key back, has a posterolateral knee injury that does not require surgery. He is expected to miss some football, with a timeline for his injury to be clearer in the coming days. Richmond youngster Judson Clarke has suffered more injury heartbreak after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the third time. Clarke suffered the latest setback playing in the VFL on Saturday - a cruel blow just as he was on the cusp of an AFL recall. The 21-year-old was playing his sixth game back after tearing his ACL for a second time in April last year He first tore the ACL in his right knee in 2019 - two years before he was snared by Richmond with pick No.30 in the 2021 national draft. Clarke kicked 11 goals for Richmond across 13 games in 2023, before his 2024 campaign was cruelled early by his second ACL tear. The skilful left-footer re-signed with Richmond until the end of 2026 just last month, and he impressed with two goals from 27 disposals in the VFL last week. But his AFL career now hangs in the balance following his latest setback. "Judson is a great character and has worked so hard behind the scenes to get himself back playing football and into fantastic form," Richmond's general manager of football Tim Livingstone said. "This is such an unfortunate setback for Judson, and we are all so disappointed that he will not be on the field for a little while. "He will have the support of everyone at Richmond to come back again from this, and we know he will give it his all." Fellow Tiger Campbell Gray, a mid-season draftee from last year who has been playing as a key back, has a posterolateral knee injury that does not require surgery. He is expected to miss some football, with a timeline for his injury to be clearer in the coming days.
