Sam Walker has long been considered a Maroons halfback in waiting, but with Tom Dearden out of Origin I, the early speculation suggests it won’t be the Roosters halfback winning the Queensland gig.
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Cowboys playmaker Jake Clifford has emerged as a bolter to replace club teammate Dearden in the Origin fold and at this stage, he may be the favourite.
The other names in the hunt are Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jamal Fogarty and Tanah Boyd.
Maroons legend Gorden Tallis made a compelling case for Clifford on Monday night’s episode of NRL360, but believes Walker wouldn’t look out of place either, stating the Roosters star adds “another dimension” to the Maroons’ attack.
However, as NRL360 host Braith Anasta noted, the talk around Walker being named at halfback has cooled since the weekend, and it’s left him puzzled.
“I would think that most people would’ve thought when Dearden went down that Sam Walker would be the number one (choice at halfback),” Anasta said.
“Look at the Roosters and his form. He’s been waiting in the wings and at these junior Maroons camps but normally you know what the coach is thinking by the messages that have been put out there days afterwards and Sam doesn’t look like he’s in favour.
“Why would he not be in favour?”
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Tallis responded that while Walker could light up the Origin arena in attack, his size presents a problem in defence.
“There’s a question mark with his size and coming up against the big back rowers,” Tallis said.
“The NRL is a jungle and when it comes to State of Origin, it’s just a meaner part of it. Every weakness in your game gets exposed.”
Just a couple of years ago, Walker was considered the next man up by many whenever Daly Cherry-Evans decided to call time.
As it turned out, Cherry-Evans was axed after the Maroons’ Game I loss last season.
Walker was sidelined with a knee injury so he wasn’t in the frame for selection.
Instead, coach Billy Slater named Dearden at seven to partner Cam Munster. It turned out to be a masterstroke, with the Cowboys gun named player of the series after leading Queensland to two straight wins to clinch another series for the Maroons.
Now with Dearden out of action, Walker appeared to be the favourite, but Clifford’s name has come from nowhere in recent days.
Foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley also thinks Walker deserves a crack
“Sam has owned the big moments. He’s been brought through the system, he’s got the best short kicking game in the comp. The way the game’s going at the moment with the rule changes, you would think he would be the walk-up starter.
“I’ve heard Wayne Bennett say he’s the closest thing to Alfie Langer.”
Interestingly, Walker, Clifford and Cherry-Evans will all battle it out at 5:30pm this Saturday in a final mouth-watering Origin audition when the Roosters take on the Cowboys at Magic Round.
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