Roosters half Sam Walker has avoided going to the open market, reportedly locking in a two-year $2.1 million deal to stay in Bondi.
In news that will be a dagger to the heart of hopeful Broncos fans who had hoped to bring Walker back to his junior club, News Corp reported that although Walker hadn’t yet signed, he had “shaken hands” on a two-year extension, which also includes a car, to make him the latest player on over $1 million a season.
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While the Roosters reportedly baulked a Walker’s first asking price of $1.5m, it appears the 22-year-old is set to stay at Bondi.
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Walker will become just the 15th player in the NRL to be on over $1m a season, joining fellow halfbacks such as Nathan Cleary ($1.3m), Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.2m), Mitchell Moses ($1.2m) and Nicho Hynes ($1.1m).
It had been believed Walker could have tested his value on the open market after truly having his breakout season in 2024.
But he’s shut that speculation down by reportedly tying his future to the Roosters for the next two years.
The news comes after teammate Angus Crichton appeared to have spilled the beans on the youngster staying with the Roosters.
“I don’t have a scoop for you, but I know he’s been looking for properties around Sydney so hopefully that’s a good sign,” he said from Kangaroos camp in New Zealand.
“I’m great mates with Sammy. I sort of tried to take him under my wing when he came to the club as a pimply little 17-year-old.
“We’re great mates now and I’m super keen on him sticking around. He’s a crucial part to our team. The way that he plays, you can see that there are points all around him.
“The kind of stuff that he pulls out on the field, you can’t coach it. The more mature he gets as a half, he’ll get better and better. He’s a massive part of our team moving forward.”
While Walker was the 2021 rookie of the year, he largely played second fiddle to the experienced Luke Keary.
But the 2023 season was brutal for Walker, who had been signed by the Roosters as a 17-year-old as the club’s potential long-term half, but saw himself dropped to reserve grade before suffering a partially torn ACL.
However, he returned to push the Roosters into the second week of the finals before they were knocked out, his field goal helping the side past the Sharks in a 13-12 win.
In 2024, he came out of Keary’s shadow and stamped his authority on the Roosters with 21 try assists and 16 line break assists in 21 games, finishing equal fifth in the NRL alongside his more experienced teammate.
He is also believed to be the heir apparent to Daly Cherry-Evans in the Queensland No. 7 jersey in State of Origin.
The report added that it was a big show of faith for Walker, who has only started minor running and may not be available until August next year after rupturing his ACL in the penultimate round of the season.
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