Sam Walker’s spot in the Roosters side, after suffering a serious injury just a month ago, has come into question.
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The star halfback was named to face the Dolphins in Friday night’s preliminary final after undergoing syndesmosis surgery just weeks ago.
Journalist Dave Riccio said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night that Walker ran 5km two days ago to prove his ankle was ready to get through the match.
While Riccio said Walker was “90 per cent there to playing”, questions have been raised about how it will affect the Roosters game plan.
With the off-the-cuff Walker out injured, Daly Cherry-Evans took over and made the Roosters play more structured.
It almost helped them beat minor premiers Penrith in the opening week of the finals and enabled them to smash the Sharks last week.
“The team knew exactly what they’re going to do, where they’ve had to get to points on the field, then they executed,” NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said.
“They’ve taken that unpredictability out of the game and that’s what Sam brings, which can be his biggest asset, but can also be very detrimental to the team.
“That’s the conversation I think that they’d be having behind the scenes is that we haven’t seen those kicks on play one, play two. Also their defence has improved with (Hugo) Savala playing in the halves.”
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Anasta suggested there was an “element of risk” to changing what’s been successful over the past couple of weeks.
Journalist Paul Crawley thinks the Roosters need Walker to beat the Dolphins in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium this week.
“It (style) was successful against the Sharks. I thought in the Penrith game, they probably lacked a little bit of Sam’s magic, especially when Nathan was in the sin-bin when they couldn’t get a point,” Crawley said.
Riccio said the worry for the Roosters could be if the game is tight and the pressure is right on.
Will an underdone Walker struggle to keep his side on track?
“I wouldn’t call it criticism, but if there was to be some feedback around Sam’s style of play, it was that freelance footy that at times the teammates can get a little bit lost in translation,” Riccio said.
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“With DCE and Savala there, I’m sure every player knows exactly what they need to do and where it’s going to go. It’s the unpredictability that can be the biggest strength, but also the biggest weakness,” Anasta added.
“I agree with the decision for him to come in, it’s just what’s going to happen, how’s it going to play out?
Anasta also believes Cherry-Evans should run the side around the park and allow Walker to play what he sees when he gets the ball.
“Getting to the points on the field that they need to get to to beat the Dolphins, DCE needs to be in control of that and executing that game plan,” Anasta said.