The Chiefs have made no secret that Penrith champion Nathan Cleary is their No. 1 target, but with news this week that Sam Walker\u2019s contract talks with the Roosters broke down<\/a>, all of a sudden he\u2019s in the frame.<\/p>\n Both Cleary and Walker, at this stage, won\u2019t talk to their clubs about contract extensions until the season ends and there\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ll go to market on November 1.<\/p>\n With the two State of Origin halfbacks possibly available from November 1, the Chiefs will now fancy themselves to poach one of them.<\/p>\n The panellists on NRL 360 on Wednesday night dissected the situation. <\/p>\n \u201cPNG have showed clear interest in Walker and Nathan, right? But there\u2019s only one spot there,\u201d host Braith Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Walker\u2019s probably thinking, okay, I think I\u2019m worth more than that at the Roosters\u2019. I\u2019m guaranteed the PNG Chiefs if I want to take that. <\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s also probably thinking, if I don\u2019t get there before November 1, and Nathan wants to go there, then that spot\u2019s taken and that money\u2019s gone. <\/p>\n \u201cSo is Sam thinking, geez, I want to jump the gun here and get in before Nathan. Is he up in the air umming and ahhing about the decision that he makes next?<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to look at all this for what it is. There\u2019s a bit of jockeying for positions.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cWould they (Chiefs) take Sam now then?\u201d Gorden Tallis asked<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Of course they would,\u201d Anasta replied.<\/p>\n Robbo talks Walker future, NRL expansion | 12:10<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n Twist in No.1 race; Dogs\u2019 season on thin ice in four-team finals fight \u2014 NRL Run Home<\/a><\/p>\n Massive Dogs blow after star\u2019s shock contract call; Penrith poach young gun \u2014 Whispers<\/a><\/p>\n The NRL 360 host also explained how the Chiefs could have a dilemma of their own on their hands.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t know if Nathan\u2019s going to go there. If they hold off on Walker, and then Walker goes, okay, well, I might just stay at the Chooks, then they don\u2019t get Nathan, they\u2019re left with neither one,\u201d Anasta said. <\/p>\n Anasta said he believed if Walker told the Chiefs he was keen to sign, they\u2019d take him despite Cleary possibly waiting in the wings from November 1.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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