Dylan Walker reckons his career has all the hallmarks of a page-turner.
“Mate, it’s been the best ride in my life, taking me all the way to the ups, and then I’ve gone all the way down to the downs,” Walker said.
“I should write a book about it, to be honest. There’s been a lot of ups and downs. It’s landed me here today.”
Here is Kellyville, for his first day of training as a Parramatta player. The journey Walker alludes to has taken him to South Sydney, Manly and New Zealand, with 232 NRL appearances along the way. There’s also a premiership, with the Rabbitohs in 2014, as well as four Tests for Australia and two NSW State of Origin appearances.
There have been missteps off the field. A year after earning a grand final ring, he and close mate Aaron Gray almost lost their lives after overdosing on painkillers, including oxycodone and tramadol. Two years later, he fractured his hand after punching his apartment door, resulting in a $10,000 fine and a month-long absence from football. Then there was another $10,000 fine, and a one-game ban for assaulting a pizza shop worker.
The NRL also stood down the journeyman after he was charged with domestic violence offences, of which he was later found not guilty, in 2019.
“On the field, I think I was always good at blocking things out,” Walker says ahead of his Eels debut against the Dragons on Saturday.
Parramatta Eels recruit Dylan WalkerCredit: Parramatta Eels
“Off the field, that’s where I had my challenges. But deep down in myself, I knew that I’m a good person at heart that just had to grow up a bit, discipline myself.
“No one’s gonna get it perfect. I’m not gonna say I am or that anyone else is. Everyone has their journey, and I’m happy about it.
“I’ve learnt from it. I’ve matured as a man, father, and even when I did become a father, I wasn’t doing the best job at it.
“Coming here, Parramatta gave me the opportunity and now I feel a sense of loyalty to give back to Parra.
“I’ve had my challenges – people love to always go into it – but I don’t have that chip on my shoulder about it any more.”
Asked if previously had a chip on his shoulder, Walker replies: “I think I did. I had my walls up for sure, definitely. I felt it was the victim mentality, and I felt like I had to hold my gloves up and fight back. But at the end of the day, a lot of myself was taken away.
“I lost myself a little bit in that sense … but I’ve got myself in a good spot where I could be proud of my career because I’ve done it all.
“I’ve done everything and I can say that I’ve had a really good career. You can’t be a premiership-winning player, play for Australia, play for NSW, play over 230 games if you’re a dickhead.
“Along the way, growing up, there are going to be times when my kids are gonna ask me about this and that. It’s part of life, it’s the journey of it. It’s not smooth sailing always.”
“I’ve had my challenges – people love to always go into it – but I don’t have that chip on my shoulder about it any more.”
Eels recruit Dylan Walker
Brown was granted a release from the Warriors on compassionate grounds to be closer to his children. The move has given a young Eels squad valuable experience as well as a player who can play virtually every position.
As a schoolboys star, he played with and against Mitchell Moses, and the pair spoke before Walker signed with the club. There have been suggestions that they could link up again in the halves, as a potential replacement for Newcastle-bound Dylan Brown. However, the 30-year-old will come off the bench on Saturday and his ongoing role will probably be as a roaming forward.
As far as Walker is concerned, he’s here to help rather than replace Brown.
“I think Dyl Brown is an exceptional talent and we all know that,” he says. “I see the criticism as just a bit silly, and it does spark conversation, which I understand, because it’s a lot of money, but we all know what he can do.
“Me coming back and being 230 [games] deep and voicing what I sort of understood throughout the years, I think he can take a lot out of it. As that develops, it’s gonna create a better relationship.
“I wish him all the best in the future, but right now, working together right now, we’re locker buddies at the moment, and he’s a cool dude.”
After 15 years in the top grade, Walker believes he can bring the leadership and experience that new coach Jason Ryles has been looking for.
“I’d like to think that I’ve got a lot of knowledge about the game, a footy brain,” he said.
“There are different types of leadership. Your communication and language is powerful, how you use it, especially to younger guys and even to the older guys.
“It’s the emotional intelligence to understand when to say something or when to pull back.
”I think some guys can word-vomit and say it out loud and sort of dampens it, it doesn’t make it more effective.
“It doesn’t hold the value or the weight behind it. It’s not being quiet, but it’s just saying the right things but not over-explaining it.”
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