Sam Walker (rugby league)

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Sam Walker
SAM WALKER.jpg
Personal information
Born (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 19)
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight83 kg (13 st 1 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– Sydney Roosters 21 8 23 3 81
As of 17 Sept 2021
Source: [1]

Sam Walker (born 16 June 2002) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.

Background[]

Walker was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, while his Australian father Ben, a professional rugby league player, was playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.[2] Walker and his family moved back to Australia in 2003 and settled in Ipswich, Queensland, where he was raised.

He played his junior rugby league for the North Ipswich Tigers[3] and attended Ipswich Grammar School before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.[4][5]

Walker's uncles Shane and Chris are also former professional rugby league players.[6]

Playing career[]

In 2019, Walker played for the Ipswich Jets in the Mal Meninga Cup.[7] On 5 June 2019, he started at halfback for Queensland under-18 in their 34–12 win over New South Wales.[8] On 11 June 2019, he signed with the Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal.[9]

On 29 September 2019, Walker represented the Australian Schoolboys, scoring a try in their 36–20 win over the Junior Kiwis.[10]

In 2020, Walker joined the Roosters' NRL squad but did not play a single game that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions. In round 15 of the 2020 NRL season, he was included in the Roosters 21-man squad to play the Wests Tigers but was omitted from the side before the game.[11][12]

2021[]

On 27 February, Walker played in the Sydney Roosters’ pre-season trial win over the Canberra Raiders, scoring a try.[13][14] He began the 2021 season playing for North Sydney, the Roosters' NSW Cup feeder team.[15]

In round 4 of the 2021 NRL season, Walker made his first-grade debut for the Sydney Roosters against the New Zealand Warriors at the Sydney Cricket Ground, assisting a try and scoring a conversion as his side won 32–12.[16][17] The following week, he scored his first try in the NRL and set up three others in a pivotal performance as the Roosters went from being 4–18 down to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, to mounting a comeback to win 26–18.[18]

In round 14, Walker kicked the winning field goal as the Sydney Roosters defeated the Gold Coast Titans 35–34.[19]

In round 17, with just under 20 seconds left to play, Walker bizarrely ran 90 metres in the opposite direction before running over the sideline as the Sydney Roosters defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 22-16.[20]

In week 1 of the finals, against the Gold Coast Titans, Walker kicked the winning field goal in the 77th minute of the game, as the Roosters went on to win the match 25-24. [21] On 27 September, Walker was named Dally M Rookie of the year.[22]

References[]

  1. ^ "Career Stats & Summary - Sam Walker". Rugby League Project.
  2. ^ Smith, Peter (4 April 2021). "Leeds-born teenager Sam Walker stars in NRL debut - son of ex-Leeds Rhinos player Ben Walker helps Sydney Roosters to big win over New Zealand Warriors". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  3. ^ Gould, Joel (27 June 2017). "Met West honoured being unbeaten state champs". Queensland Times. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Roosters recruit becomes Australian sport's richest 16-year-old". The Courier Mail. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. ^ Gould, Joel (1 June 2019). "How brekkie with Robinson and Keary inspired Sam Walker". QRL.com.au. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ^ "'Most gifted since Ponga': Roosters beat rugby to sign teen on $300k deal". Wide World of Sports. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Ipswich Jets young gun Sam Walker chats all things footy". QRL. 17 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Queensland Under 18 team named". QRL. 26 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Roosters beat rivals, ARU to sign talented teen half". NRL. 11 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Walker and Howarth shine in Australian Schoolboys big win". NRL. 26 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Stars return for premiers with sons of guns on standby". NRL. 18 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Team Announcement: Round 15". Sydney Roosters. 18 August 2020.
  13. ^ Kennedy, Chris (2 March 2021). "Cronk helps Walker stay on pace despite 18-month layoff". NRL.com. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  14. ^ "NRL 2021: Sam Walker set to sign long-term deal with Sydney Roosters". Courier Mail. 3 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Joseph Suaalii and Sam Walker show class but Cade Cust rules the roost for Blacktown". The Daily Telegraph. 15 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Round 4 team lists". NRL.com. 30 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Morris chasing history after 26-year first in epic try-scoring run to start season". Fox Sports. 5 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Rookie Rooster shines in epic comeback". NRL.com. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Brisbane Broncos' Kobe Hetherington sent off in loss to Canberra Raiders; Roosters and Rabbitohs score wins". ABC News. 12 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Star's big halves switch Roosters must consider; Dog's audition for permanent role: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 10 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Controversial field goal seals epic one-point win as Titans butcher last-gasp chance: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 11 September 2021.
  22. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (27 September 2021). "2021 NRL Dally M Awards Live: Tom Trbojevic crowned NRL's best". News.com.au — Australia's Leading News Site.

External links[]

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