Roosters coach Trent Robinson dropped a bombshell on the NRL world by axing younger halfback Sam Walker — nonetheless, he “had no choice”.
That is based on The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley who believes that Luke Keary and Sam Walker’s taking part in types are too related because the Tricolours sit 3-3 after seven rounds.
Joey Manu, who gained the World Cup golden boot as participant of the event, will change him at five-eighth regardless of taking part in the vast majority of his NRL profession within the centres.
Watch each sport of each spherical of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“I don’t think the club had any option but to put Joey Manu at six, if you watch that game against the Sharks the other night and the way the two Roosters halves play so similar,” Crawley mentioned on NRL360 on Tuesday evening.
“And Keary was clearly the in-form player of the two…. and then you’ve got a guy, a golden boot winner from last year who was so exceptional for the Kiwis at the World Cup.
“They had no choice, it had to be done… for Sam Walker… it’s not the end for him.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read additionally believes he “will be back sooner rather than later” with the Roosters handing him a two-year extension reportedly price $1 million in December 2022.
However, some obvious stats may even see the 20-year-old halfback bide his time in reserve grade for an prolonged interval.
Walker makes the second most errors per sport than any present halfback (1.7), whereas solely three halfbacks have much less attempt assists in 2023.
Wighton urged to make resolution on future | 01:42
He additionally has a median of 1 attempt contribution per sport, with solely Jamal Fogarty (0.67), Tanah Boyd (0.5) and Kyle Flanagan (0.4) having much less.
While Read believes it gained’t be lengthy earlier than Walker is again within the NRL, Crawley believes if Manu delivers he could possibly be stored out of the group for the remainder of the season.
“He’s obviously a quality footballer and you don’t invest that much money into a kid that age unless you think he is going to be a good player down the track, he’s a good player now, it’s just not working for him at the moment,” Read mentioned.
“He’s obviously got some deficiencies in his game, he’s struggled defensively for a while now.”
“I’m not so sure about that, it’s either him or Luke Keary if Manu goes to six and he succeeds like you think he will, then it becomes a shootout between Keary and Walker for that jumper,” Crawley mentioned.
“Long term, obviously Sam will get there… at another club this might not happen, but the fact you have Manu sitting there in the centres.”
NRL360 co-host Paul Kent additionally highlighted the similarities between Keary and Walker.
As per NRL.com, there’s solely a 5 centimetre peak distinction between the pair and an identical weight margin.
MORE NRL NEWS
RESERVES WRAP: Rugby convert explodes as resolution to Dogs’ harm disaster emerges
‘YOU BEAUTY’: Queenslander’s hilarious response to Wighton’s shock Origin name
REBUILD: How Ciraldo-Gould partnership plans to return Bulldogs to title contenders
They additionally each play a ‘heads up’ type that didn’t “combine” efficiently firstly of the 2023 season based on NRL360 host Braith Anasta.
“Keary and Walker play so similarly, you need a point of difference, the problems they cause you, they are similar,” Kent mentioned.
“They are similar body shapes, similar speeds, there are so many similarities there that if you prepare for one you prepare for both.”
“I think Walker is a 10-year NRL player, they play similar styles, similar builds and sometimes those combinations, they don’t combine,” Anasta mentioned.
“I think it (Keary and Manu) poses a bigger threat.”
Kent additionally believes choosing a participant of Manu’s high quality within the halves will nearly actually be successful.
However, the longer he spends within the place the extra opposition coaches and groups will be capable of examine his sport and put together for his attacking prowess.
“They are starting to struggle a little bit the Roosters, they aren’t dominating games and they are looking for the wins,” Kent mentioned.
Wests younger gun’s 90m solo NSWC attempt | 00:34
Get all the newest NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“They don’t want to let teams get away from them… they usually win more games too.
“He’s going to be a different threat to what’s there at the moment, he’s a big body, he’s a runner… Golden Boot winner, so it is hard to go wrong.
“For all his talents, we still don’t know a lot about Manu as a five-eighth, what kind of five-eighth and how effective he is going to be from week to week.
“We’ve obviously seen at different times he has been highly effective, but when he does go there it is at a time when the defence has been prepared for someone else.
“He becomes a bit of a surprise package, but if he is going to be there week after week, they are going to see how he reacts in situations and that’s when the defence will try and shut him down.”
For Walker, he’ll now ply his commerce within the Roosters’ NSW Cup group in an enormous check of his resolve.
“It’s a big test of his character now, we will see what he is made of because it is the first time that this has happened,” Read mentioned.
“Not many players go through their career without being dropped at some point.”
“It is his first little test of resilience, I think the world of him and I think he will bounce back,” Anasta mentioned.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
