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The 24-year-old hobbled from the field in the 53rd minute after his ankle was caught awkwardly in a tackle involving Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.<\/p>\n
The Roosters had been anxiously awaiting the results of scans, with coach Trent Robinson initially holding out hope Walker could return at some stage during the finals.<\/p>\n
Instead, the worst-case scenario has been confirmed, leaving the Tricolours without their star playmaker for their premiership campaign and facing a major selection headache heading into September.<\/p>\n
It is another crushing setback for Walker, whose season has now been ended prematurely for the second time in three years.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred when Finefeuiaki\u2019s knees were already grounded before he slid and made contact with Walker\u2019s foot.<\/p>\n
The Bunker reviewed the tackle but ruled there was no hip drop or foul play involved.<\/p>\n
Walker immediately appeared in significant discomfort and eventually limped from the field, with fears quickly emerging that he had suffered a syndesmosis injury.<\/p>\n
During the Cowboys and Tigers\u2019 clash later on Saturday, Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane revealed the Roosters believed their halfback had suffered a syndesmosis injury.<\/p>\n
Chooks crisis? Sam Walker leaves injured | 00:42<\/p>\n
Speaking before the results of Walker\u2019s scans were known, Robinson confirmed his halfback had been sent for further assessment.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s gone for scans,\u201d Robinson said post-game, with a final diagnosis expected within hours.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the club feared Walker had suffered a high ankle injury, Robinson said: \u201cPossibly, yeah. We\u2019re thinking that.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that stage, the severity of the injury remained unclear and Robinson refused to speculate on what Walker\u2019s potential absence could mean for the Roosters\u2019 finals campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, look they\u2019re hypotheticals,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
Captain James Tedesco was similarly hopeful the injury would not prove serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, well we don\u2019t know how severe it is yet, so hopefully it\u2019s not too bad,\u201d Tedesco said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s one of those ones you get caught in the tackle. I had a similar one as well, so yeah, it\u2019s tough, hopefully it\u2019s not too long.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see how it is, but again, I think everyone\u2019s disappointed with our performance and that injury as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those hopes have now been dashed after scans confirmed the high-grade syndesmosis injury and the need for surgery.<\/p>\n
Even before the diagnosis was confirmed, the immediate reaction to Walker\u2019s injury painted an ominous picture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalker has fallen down, Walker went down. This looks very bad for the Roosters, this is such a moment here, Walker in pain,\u201d commentator Andrew Voss said on Fox League\u2019s Super Saturday coverage.<\/p>\n
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