It was the ice-cold second that proved Sam Walker is “made for big games”.
With the Roosters’ season on the road, the younger half stepped as much as nail a discipline purpose in opposition to the Sharks that put his facet forward in an epic week one finals conflict
It was a clutch play from a participant who till three weeks in the past was not even within the facet on account of a mix of damage and kind.
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Roosters nice Braith Anasta praised Walker for not shying away from the most important second.
“It’s all a part of the journey, he has learnt the tough way this year,” Anasta stated on NRL360 on Tuesday night time.
“The one thing about Sam Walker is he is the type of player who can come up with big moments, he made that look so easy when he came up with the field goal.
“It was like shelling peas… he tests the opposition every time he touches the ball. He’s made for these big games Sam. Since he has returned, his form has been great.
“That moment where he kicked the field goal, you can’t underestimate that. You’re a young half who has been dropped and pretty much told you aren’t cutting it with first grade.
“You come back in and you’re playing an elimination final, and look how easy he makes that look.”
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League legend Gorden Tallis stated the stress younger playmakers are below can’t be underestimated, which made Walker’s efficiency all of the extra spectacular.
“We expect so much from our halves, only a select few at 19 or 20 come on the scene and don’t get dropped,” Tallis stated on NRL360.
“Some of these guys need to learn the game. He came in to a system and he was struggling, sometimes you can struggle for form.
“A lot of the Roosters players were, he went back to reserve grade to find his game and I don’t think it’s the kick in the bum people think it is.
“Then he got injured, but it’s experience. Under the spotlight now how much pressure they are under.”
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“That’s why it spoke so much about his character and self-belief, in the big moment he wanted the ball in his hands,” The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley added.
“Not only did he want the ball in his hands, he went for broke. The big pass and the field goal.
“After the season he had you would think he would come back a little gun shy, but no he was guns a blazing.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio then lauded a facet of Walker’s sport that’s usually neglected.
“What impresses me most by a country mile is his toughness, I sat on this panel four weeks ago talking to you about how he was going to see a specialist,” Riccio stated.
“To seek more advice on his bruised ACL at the time and had he got a different result he would be out for the season.
“Look at his body shape, he’s not the biggest body in the world by a country mile and he’s come back when the whips are cracking.
“He’s been dealt some physical blows by teams who think they can outmuscle him.
“I think his toughness has been what has impressed me the most.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au