A difference in opinion over how the Sydney Roosters should attack has led to tension between the family of dumped halfback Sam Walker and the Tricolours’ coaching staff.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald that Walker’s family are privately claiming the Roosters don’t play a style of football that suits the young Queenslander’s strengths.
Walker has struggled for form in 2023, culminating in Roosters coach Trent Robinson dumping him to the NSW Cup in favour of a Joseph Manu-Luke Keary combination for this week’s Anzac Day clash against St George Illawarra.
The Walker family has privately raised concerns over the club’s game plan and the influence of halves consultant Cooper Cronk on the style of football Walker is being asked to play.
Walker’s father Ben and uncle Shane are renowned for the off-the-cuff freestyle brand of football they coach at Ipswich in the Queensland Cup. It’s the type of football Sam Walker was raised playing.
The family believes Walker is hamstrung by the attack style of the Roosters, which is influenced by Cronk.
Sam Walker has been dropped to the NSW Cup.Credit: Getty Images
The former Queensland and Australia No.7 is regarded as one of the best structured halfbacks in the history of the game and had a major impact on the Roosters when he joined from the Melbourne Storm in 2018.
While he is not one of Robinson’s assistants, Cronk still works with the club’s halves and attacking players. The Herald attempted to contact Cronk.
While Walker is unlikely to be publicly critical of the Roosters, those close to him voiced their concerns as far back as the pre-season.
The Roosters were made aware of the angst that has been bubbling in the background during the past couple of months.
The Herald spoke to a Roosters official, who claimed Walker had not raised an issue with the club nor with Cronk. Walker’s dropping has brought the issue to a head.
The Roosters claim they have no issue with Walker and want him to spend time in reserve grade to rediscover his form. They see him as a long-term halfback.
In Walker’s debut season, he racked up 19 try assists in 21 games. He has just two this season.
The Roosters have lost their past two games, against Melbourne and Cronulla, scoring just three tries in 160 minutes.
The Roosters, who arguably have the most potent back line in the competition, completed at an impressive 88 per cent last week but scored only two tries in their 22-12 defeat at the hands of the Sharks.
The Roosters haven’t scored a try in the second half in the past two weeks, while skipper James Tedesco is yet to cross the line for a try this year.
Robinson has moved to reinvigorate his team’s attack by dropping Walker and moving Manu to the halves.
The Roosters coach has not been afraid to make tough decisions in the past, moving on Mitchell Pearce for Cronk. He also previously dropped both Manu and Latrell Mitchell from the NRL team to help them rediscover their attacking confidence.
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