![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789990705_684_635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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September 21, 2026 \u2014 7:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Sam Walker edged a step closer to a miraculous comeback at Sydney Roosters training on Monday as more than 4000 fans watched the Dolphins prepare for their first preliminary final.<\/p>\n There were fantastic scenes on both sides of the border in the countdown to Friday\u2019s first grand final qualifier, which is on track to be a sellout at Suncorp Stadium.<\/p>\n Walker suffered a syndesmosis injury against the Dolphins in round 26<\/a> \u2013 just 23 days ago \u2013 but told teammates less than a week after undergoing surgery he would be back for a preliminary final, provided his teammates kept up their end of the bargain and the Roosters\u2019 season was still alive.<\/p>\n Hugo Savala slotted into his preferred halves position alongside Daly Cherry-Evans in Walker\u2019s absence, and is likely to revert to left centre for Friday\u2019s preliminary final, opposite NSW Origin representative Jack Bostock.<\/p>\n Walker, 24, was all smiles as he joined his teammates on the field on a cloudy and blustery afternoon at Allianz Stadium. Savala was one of the first to greet Walker.<\/p>\n Veterans Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco were given the session off, while Angus Crichton was also not required to take part after his successful return from a foot injury on the weekend.<\/p>\n Should Walker play, it will mean the Roosters head north with a fully fit squad<\/a>. The Dolphins, remarkably, are also at full strength with Tom Flegler available after using the weekend off to recover from a concussion.<\/p>\n Teammates were confident livewire playmaker Walker would be on deck for the clash that features two teams with no shortage of X-factor, including Mark Nawaqanitawase and Dolphins\u2019 duo Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d rather know straight away if he is [playing], and I think we will,\u201d forward Victor Radley said of Walker\u2019s return.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Sammy walked in here, when I saw him about four days after he did it, he told us he\u2019d play in this game. He hasn\u2019t shied away from it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe trained against us on Thursday last week, and he was all I could see \u2013 he just kept picking us apart.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fairness, he was in a pink [rehab] bib, but as the session went on, a few of us were like, \u2018Are we allowed hit this bloke?\u2019 He was putting on a clinic. He was moving well.\u201d<\/p>\n Radley suffered a syndesmosis injury in 2022, missed six weeks and said the main difficulty was slowing down, rather than accelerating or stepping.<\/p>\n Savala said he was happy to revert to the centres \u2013 or anywhere else the club needed him \u2013 if Queensland Origin star Walker was fit.<\/p>\n Savala trained in various positions during the off-season, including centre, dummy half and lock, which gives coach Trent Robinson plenty of options. Before this year, Savala said he had never played a minute of football in the centres.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cI\u2019ll be ready to go in whatever position I\u2019m in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve loved being back playing in my preferred position. I know we didn\u2019t get the win against Penrith [in the qualifying final], but it was a good stepping stone, and we went out against the Sharkies and showed what we can do together<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way he [Cherry-Evans] communicates and how clear he is, he puts everyone on the same page.<\/p>\n \u201cHe also gives players confidence to back themselves and to express themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get some clarity [on where I play] after the next couple of training sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Look](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/770c163e7c7bcedde102b4ad28e34cbc44e1147b.jpeg\")
Look who\u2019s back: Sam Walker was a welcome sight at Sydney Roosters\u2019 training on Monday.Wolter Peeters<\/p>\n![\"Meanwhile,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/66c9144f27d27957df55f0024a1f7ba3a819d7bb.jpeg\")
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, more than 4000 fans turned up to watch the Dolphins train.Dolphins<\/p>\n![\"Hugo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/85fd05d68b2df19ee0596e37a0dcdb8ee019549f.jpeg\")
Hugo Savala greets Sam Walker at training on Monday.Wolter Peeters<\/p>\n![\"Should](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/c9bab3acb8828347729a2e4782b6da86f4584b03ace8897ff0722bf39e63055b.gif\")
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