Can Sam Walker be as good as Nathan Cleary? Walker’s halves partner at the Roosters, Luke Keary, believes so.
“Definitely. He’s got all the skill attributes, the mind, and he knows footy,” Keary said.
“He’s got all the stuff to be that guy. To be that guy takes a lot of hard work and a lot of consistency over a long, long period of time. We probably won’t find out for four or five years.”
Keary is in a unique position to provide a perspective, given he has witnessed Walker’s progression at the Tricolours and also made his one and only State of Origin appearance to date alongside Cleary. The Penrith No.7 is considered the NRL’s best playmaker while Walker, aged just 20, is developing into a star in his own right.
“He’s got a high ceiling,” Keary said. “Just from the age [perspective], he can be like Nathan. You earn that jersey at a club like this, you can go a long, long way.
“He’s in a similar situation to Nathan. Whatever he does with that, we’ll see in the next four or five years.
Sam Walker is in fine form.Credit:Getty
“They are very different players but have similar upbringings. Sammy obviously spent a lot of time with footy teams, Nathan the same.
“It definitely helps your progression.”
At the corresponding time last year, Walker was a bench player. He was an effective one at that, coming off the pine to kick the winning field goal in the opening week of the finals against the Gold Coast.
This year he is one of the few players who, save for a head-injury assessment, has been on the field for every minute of every game. The son of former NRL half Ben Walker has recently done it while wearing the No.7 jersey, a responsibility that hasn’t been a burden since swapping jerseys with Keary.
A jubilant Sam Walker (right) celebrates his winning field goal over the Titans in the opening week of the NRL finals last year.Credit:Getty
Told about Keary’s stunning praise, Walker said: “He’s been a huge help. Kez.
“Last year when he was out he was still coaching me through my role as a starting half. This year, having him there is really good. He’s taken that responsibility on his shoulders and allowed me to play my footy.
“He’s helped me since I’ve come to the club.”
Asked if he benchmarked himself against Cleary, Walker said: “I don’t try to emulate anyone else, I don’t think I play like any other half in the NRL.
“It’s just executing my plays and playing the best footy I can. My goal at the moment is just to win the grand final in four weeks.”
Coach Trent Robinson’s decision to hand Keary his customary No.6 jersey, which has allowed Walker to wear the No.7, appears to have paid off. It was made ahead of the round 19 match against Newcastle and the Roosters haven’t lost since.
“It was pretty organic,” Keary said. “I had those three weeks off and Sammy moved over to the right and the seven. I came back in and to be honest Robbo didn’t speak about it that much, he just said ‘Mate, you’re playing in the six’. It was done, that was it, I think it was against Newcastle.
“Robbo obviously put some thought into it but didn’t make it a big deal.
“Every team plays differently, there is a difference for us. I know my role playing five-eighth here pretty well and Sammy is still learning both, he’d never played six, probably played a lot more seven as a kid.
“It was more simple for him; with the kicking you’re driving that longer game, then the six has the hands on the ball a bit more, running the attack. Things I’ve done since I’ve been here.”
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