A Strong Debut for Sam Walker
Sam Walker has received widespread praise for his debut performance with the Queensland Maroons on Wednesday night, with the Sydney Roosters halfback being one of the standout players on the field. His impressive display marked a promising start to his State of Origin career.
Walker’s contribution was evident from the very beginning. He set up the first try of the game for Robert Toia and later played a key role in sending Thomas Flegler through under the posts for the second try. His kicking skills were particularly notable, as he demonstrated effectiveness both in short and long-range kicks. Throughout the match at Accor Stadium, Walker maintained a high level of performance, helping the Maroons build a 20-point lead within the first 20 minutes.
However, this lead was eventually lost after fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off, which changed the momentum of the game. Despite this, Walker’s performance was a highlight, showcasing his potential as a future key player for Queensland.
A Long-Term Prospect
Walker has long been considered a potential long-term halfback for Queensland. However, his Origin career seemed uncertain following Thomas Dearden’s strong performances in Games 2 and 3 of last year’s series, where he replaced the previously dropped Daly Cherry-Evans.
This season, Walker earned his call-up due to Dearden’s injury at the start of the series. Coach Billy Slater expressed confidence in Walker’s abilities, highlighting his intelligence, toughness, and ability to unlock players on the field. Slater also mentioned that he looks forward to giving Walker more opportunities to play at this level.
“I thought he was great. The longer the week went on, the more confident I was he’d play like that. He is a clever little player, he is tough, he dives into all the team things, but then he brings his game, unlocks players, and we saw that tonight. I’m looking forward to him getting more opportunities and playing some more footy at this level,” Slater said during his post-match press conference.
Praise from the Captain
Maroons captain Cameron Munster also commended Walker’s performance, suggesting that the rest of the team may have let him down after their strong start. Queensland appeared to focus on protecting their lead rather than maintaining an aggressive approach.
“I thought he was unreal for us. He had a hand in a couple of tries, putting Fleg [Thomas Flegler] away and a nice little kick for Bobby [Robert Toia],” Munster said.
“Sammy was good in that first half, but unfortunately, we didn’t help him. We just tried to protect our lead instead of playing a bit of footy. When you have 12 men, it takes a bit of gas out of you. New South Wales shifted the ball a fair bit, and a couple of times Kotoni [Staggs] was one-on-one with Capes [Kurt Capewell], and he isn’t usually a centre. At the end of the day, that’s footy. It went down to the wire, a minute and 30 left, and Tedesco ended up doing something freaky.”
Looking Ahead
With his strong performance, Walker is expected to be picked again for Game 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is now a must-win for the Maroons. As Dearden is likely to be available for selection, there will be competition for the Roosters halfback when it comes time for Slater to pick his team for a potential decider back at home.
