QLD clubs eye move for axed Walker as coaching X-factor emerges: NRL Extra Time

The mixture improved because the 12 months progressed and so they helped the membership to an eight-game successful run to finish the common season. But the Roosters nonetheless completed sixth and have been bundled out within the first week of finals by their arch rivals South Sydney.

Which of the pair has worn the No. 7 jersey has modified over the previous 18 months. Walker began in it this season however in Keary’s presence he once more struggled to be the dominant halfback he was in 2021.

Less than 12 months after calling for endurance, Robinson misplaced his and dropped Walker after the Queenslander produced two strive assists and three linebreak assists in six video games.

The Sydney Morning Herald then reported a rift between Walker’s household and Roosters employees over the aspect’s enjoying fashion which the household claimed was opposite to Walker’s strengths, based on the report.

Walker’s dad Ben and uncle Shane – who performed 284 NRL video games between them – coached the Ipswich Jets to the membership’s solely Queensland Cup title in 2015 enjoying a freestyle model of free-flowing assault.

Foxsports.com.au contacted Ben this week and he rejected he SMH report, however didn’t wish to communicate on the file to present it any extra airtime.

The Walker Brothers have spoken with a number of NRL golf equipment through the years, each formally and informally, about giving them a crack teaching in first grade and foxsports.com.au understands their distinctive capacity to signal Sam has been raised in a few of these conferences.

Foxsports.com.au requested Ben if there was any fact to him and Shane being a part of a possible packaged deal if Sam have been to grow to be accessible.

Ben emphasised his household haven’t any points with the Roosters and that his son is contracted till the tip of 2025.

Ben was requested on the Fox League Podcast final 12 months if his dream was to someday coach his son within the NRL if the celebrities have been to align.

“I’m not going to hide the fact that we’d love to coach Sam again, we’ve coached him all his life so would love another opportunity but Robbo is pretty happy with him at the Roosters and Sam is signed at the Roosters,” Ben stated final July.

Robinson is adamant Walker stays a part of their long-term plans, however the Roosters do have a historical past of shifting alongside playmakers they’ve misplaced religion in – Mitchell Pearce and Kyle Flanagan are the latest examples.

Which brings us again to the Queensland golf equipment – the Broncos, Cowboys, Titans and Dolphins are all out there for a long-term half past subsequent 12 months.

Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds, North Queensland’s Chad Townsend and Gold Coast’s Kieran Foran are all on the fallacious aspect of 32, whereas the Dolphins are nonetheless chasing their marquee man.

Walker is without doubt one of the most artistic skills within the sport, however he additionally must learn to run an NRL crew and grind out wins. He’ll be on condition that probability at a membership over the subsequent decade, the one query is the place.

SOLUTION TO SOLVE HIP-DROP CONUNDRUM

The hip-drop deal with has grow to be one of the vital harmful within the sport and the NRL has rightly cracked down on it – even when they’re denying it’s a crackdown.

We noticed two extra gamers charged over the weekend, taking the season tally of the offence to 16 which is on observe to triple final 12 months (22).

Cowboys younger gun Jeremiah accepted a four-game ban for his ugly deal with on Braden Hamlin-Uele which injured the Sharks prop.

The Cronulla huge man, uncharacteristically, threw the ball furiously at Nanai’s head following the incident and after the sport referred to as the deal with “dirty”.

Hamlin-Uele will miss the subsequent 4 weeks as he recovers from the knee harm he suffered within the deal with.

Nobody is aware of higher than Alex McKinnon the devastating penalties an unlawful deal with can have on the remainder of a participant’s life.

But the previous Knights participant stated merely banning gamers received’t eradicate the deal with and that the NRL should go additional.

“Some hip drops are lazy and the tackle has got away from them but on other occasions there’s things outside their control,” McKinnon instructed foxsports.com.au.

“Sometimes they can’t do anything else due to things like play-the-ball speed and where they are positioned and where the tackle went with three players in it.

“There are more things the game should consider before trying to outlaw the tackle through suspensions.

“What’s the contributing factor to these hip-drop tackles? Maybe you only allow three people in the tackle inside your 20-metre line.

“They definitely need to consider the 10-metre rule. Do you make it eight metres and only two men in the tackle?

“That would promote the offload but that isn’t a bad thing as the viewer doesn’t lose anything. It’s an entertainment sport and if you’re a neutral you want to see tries.

“But you can’t make the changes all at once and you can’t just fix something on the run. Over summer it’s something they should look at.”

Cooper Cronk has warned hip-drops will stay for the approaching weeks as groups slowly grapple with altering their tackling method.

Clubs higher get shifting – with extra accidents inevitable – however what is going to assist them is consistency from the NRL.

Panthers hooker Soni Luke was additionally charged with a hip-drop deal with on Alex Twal however he escaped with a nice as a result of the Wests Tigers ahead wasn’t injured.

The NRL have acknowledged harm is an element when figuring out a penalty, but when they’re severe about stamping out the deal with then each cost ought to lead to a suspension this season earlier than McKinnon’s rule adjustments over the summer time.

But step one for now’s merely consistency throughout video games, particularly when the Bunker critiques a deal with.

Broncos duo Ezra Mam and Payne Haas each missed their aspect’s conflict in opposition to Souths on the weekend as a consequence of hip-drop bans, however after they occurred within the sport – a minute aside – solely the previous was penalised.

Foxsports.com.au put it to Graham Annesley that referees have been people vulnerable to errors as a consequence of pressures of what’s taking place in a match, however the NRL head of soccer flatly rejected that chance.

BROOKS COULD GET OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT… IN CANBERRA

The best participant to ever pull on a Canberra Raiders jersey – Mal Meninga – believes the membership ought to take a punt on Luke Brooks.

Ricky Stuart is out there for a half following Jack Wighton’s announcement that he’ll be leaving the membership on the finish of the season to affix South Sydney.

Wests Tigers halfback Brooks is within the ultimate 12 months of arguably probably the most scrutinised contract in NRL historical past and he isn’t anticipated to increase at Concord – though that would change after his starring efficiency in opposition to the Panthers on Saturday evening.

Wherever Brooks lands subsequent 12 months, will probably be on considerably lower than his present wage of $1.1 million per season.

Stuart is chasing a half to accomplice Jamal Fogarty subsequent season and Raiders legend Meninga believes that man might be Brooks.

“If Ricky can get the best out of Luke Brooks it would be a cheap buy and it still leaves plenty in the cap to look at other options,” Meninga instructed foxsports.com.au.

“So it could be an astute buy, you don’t know, only the Raiders can find out if they feel like he can help fill the void there.

“Brooks is a runner, he’s quick and strong in the tackle so it could work with Fogarty.”