![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
Save<\/p>\nSave<\/p>\n
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n
Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The one person enjoying Sam Walker\u2019s breakout Origin performances less than Blues coach Laurie Daley might just be Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis.<\/p>\n Walker is a free agent on November 1, and his stocks rocketed to new highs following his man-of-the-match performance for Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old has flourished at the Roosters since making his debut six seasons ago, but is yet to sit down with the club to discuss what happens beyond 2027.<\/p>\n The Roosters have already signed Hugo Savala and Toby Rodwell until the end of 2028, while another playmaker, Daly Cherry-Evans, has an option in his favour for 2027, but will take his time before deciding on his future.<\/p>\n Should NSW and Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary also go to the open market, there will be no shortage of clubs queuing up for his and Walker\u2019s services.<\/p>\n Walker\u2019s next deal could be up to $1.5 million a season on the back of what is expected to be a larger NRL broadcast deal<\/a>. The Roosters also have to set money aside for skipper James Tedesco should he choose to play on after next year.<\/p>\n When asked about his market value soaring on the back of his Origin efforts, Walker said: \u201cI haven\u2019t had a single thought about it. I\u2019ve still got a fair bit of time left at the Roosters and, fingers crossed, longer.\u201d<\/p>\n Maroons and Roosters prop Lindsay Collins has been impressed by how easily Walker has adjusted to representative football, and hopes he will ultimately become a \u201cRooster for life\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you come to this level of football, then you take it on the way he\u2019s taken it on, and the maturity he\u2019s shown, rep football makes you a better player, if you can handle it,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some people that can\u2019t handle it. But he does, and it will continue to make him a better player.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s come up through the Roosters system, and been there since he was a kid. He\u2019s also built a good life for himself [in Sydney] with his partner [Bella]. I\u2019d love to see him become a Rooster for life.\u201d<\/p>\n No moment summed up Walker\u2019s brilliance against the Blues at the MCG better than his no-look pass to Kalyn Ponga that led to a Selwyn Cobbo try in the second half.<\/p>\n \u201cI back my skill a fair bit, and I was lucky it came off \u2013 \u2018KP\u2019 is a freak of a footballer, and I knew if I threw it up there, he\u2019d end up catching it,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard his voice, so you trust your pass, and the reps you do with him. It was nice it paid off.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty confident in my footy at the moment. I feel like I\u2019ve been playing really good footy in club land, and the coaching staff and players here at Queensland they allow you to play with so much confidence and freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n Maroons halves partner Cam Munster said of Walker: \u201cHe\u2019s never overawed by the big moments, he\u2019s very calm under pressure, and the way he played that ball to \u2018KP\u2019, when he had everyone jamming in on him, but he got the ball away [was impressive].<\/p>\n \u201cHas there ever been a bloke win the Wally Lewis Medal [for the Origin player of the series] in his debut series?\u201d<\/p>\n For the record, Pat Carrigan won Origin\u2019s top individual award as a representative rookie in 2022.<\/p>\n Ponga added about Walker: \u201cHe\u2019s such a busy person \u2013 even in game one, he was in every moment \u2026 it\u2019s a privilege to play with Sammy and to learn from him. For such a young fella, he backs himself.\u201d<\/p>\n Another Roosters player involved in Wednesday\u2019s contest, NSW winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, commended Walker for the way he steered the Maroons around the park while Munster underwent a head injury assessment in the first half.<\/p>\n Angry Roosters kiss and make up<\/p>\n The \u201cmate versus mate\u201d Origin catchphrase was on full display at the MCG when Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley exchanged pleasantries after Radley was penalised for a high shot on Trent Loiero on Wednesday night. At one stage, it appeared Radley grabbed at Collins\u2019 nose as teammates tried to separate them.<\/p>\n In the second half, Collins then pushed for a captain\u2019s challenge after he claimed Reece Robson, another Roosters teammate, had forced the ball loose as a result of an illegal shoulder charge.<\/p>\n Another Roosters player, Mark Nawaqanitawase, joked: \u201cLindsay might actually hate us\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re brothers and play for the same team, but that\u2019s Origin \u2013 it doesn\u2019t matter who you play for in club land, it\u2019s mate versus mate,\u201d Naqanitawase said.<\/p>\n Collins said of the heated exchange: \u201cTrent is my teammate at the moment. I\u2019ve got this [Queensland] jersey on, so I look after my boys in the jersey. I do the same at club level.<\/p>\n \u201c[As for Robson] I challenged the strip, but was hoping for [a penalty] for the shoulder charge. That\u2019s probably why front-rowers shouldn\u2019t challenge decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article One of the forgotten stories on Wednesday was prop Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui, who played with a heavy heart following the weekend death of his father, Fereti.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last few days have been a blur, but before he passed, my dad said, \u2018No matter what happens son, you make sure you turn up for your team, and you play hard\u2019,\u201d Fa\u2019asuamaleaui said.<\/p>\n \u201cEven before he was sick, he always told me to do my best for the team. It wasn\u2019t hard turning up and representing him and all the sacrifices he made for me to be here. \u201d<\/p>\n More State of Origin II coverage<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Lindsay](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781811788_984_f404e3b9a6ff72512603ac1f8ed295bd729c7c68.jpeg\")
Lindsay Collins celebrates a try with Sam Walker and Harry Grant.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a5cbee5c0c38da8678259381fdab304f44e19781.jpeg\")
Sam Walker was man of the match at the MCG.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Mate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9ee49c19ec3a1b4525889d6bf2866fde7354e700cc5777f8146dbb56564e87b8.gif\")
Mate against mate: Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley square off.Nine<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e1d86542e363ef450f38685b7d74a854ded27b63.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n