Roosters halfback Sam Walker is a fan of his father and uncle coaching an NRL team, but has stopped short of committing to play for them if it happens.
Ben – Sam’s dad – and his brother Shane were the talk of the rugby league world several years ago when they led Ipswich to a Queensland Cup premiership.
It wasn’t so much their success but the way they got there that had footy pundits sitting up and taking notice.
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The Jets played with an off-the-cuff, exciting brand of football that supporters said could revolutionise the NRL if it was replicated at the highest level.
They’ve been floated for several NRL coaching roles since, and last month Immortal playmaker Andrew Johns called for the Titans to consider taking a chance on them as early as next season.
“The drums are beating, Des (Hasler) is gone at the end of the year. The Walker brothers have got to get that job,” he said on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth.
Sam Walker is a fan of his father and uncle, Ben and Shane, coaching in the NRL. Nine
“Just roll the dice. Do something different. Have a shot. Play an attacking game.”
Walker, 23, learned his football craft from his dad and uncles as a youngster.
He’s now one of the best playmakers in the NRL and plays a unique ad-lib style that often leaves opposition defences bamboozled.
He believes the Walker brothers could bring that style to the big league.
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“Obviously a very biased opinion, but I think they would do an unbelievable job,” he said on Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
“The way they see the game, I think the NRL – especially the Titans – they are probably pushing towards a different sort of style. They’ve gone the same look (for a while) and it obviously hasn’t worked.
“The way they coach, it looks like it’s all attack and off the cuff, so erratic. But the way they do it is very detailed, very methodical and very thought out.
“The reason why they do a lot of their stuff, it’s for a reason, and it works, and they are very passionate about how they do it.”
Walker is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2027, but will attract plenty of rival interest come November 1 next year if the Chooks don’t lock him down long-term.
It’s been suggested he could be a marquee Titans signing if his dad and uncle did end up coaching the club, but could only laugh awkwardly when it was put to him.
“I’m happy at the Roosters at the moment,” he smiled.
“I’d love to see them coaching. Having been trained by them when I was younger I think they would do an unbelievable job.
“But right now I’m pretty set on the Roosters.”
Hasler is contracted to coach the Titans next year but he reportedly reached an agreement with Gold Coast to quit the job at the end of this season.
It has yet to be confirmed by Hasler or the club.