Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\nThere are more than several clubs who could use Walker, but the Broncos aren\u2019t one of them, with the Brisbane glamour club dipping out of the race for the Maroons and Kangaroos star.<\/p>\n
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
However, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have emerged as a potential destination.<\/p>\n
Former Daily Telegraph newshound Phil Rothfield revealed he had contacted Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly following the Walker news.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no secret Souths are lacking in the halves.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hearing that the Rabbitohs, who we all know are desperately short a half, are in the mix,\u201d Rothfield said on Triple M.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore we came on the air, I texted (CEO) Blake Solly and said, \u201cthere\u2019s mail you might be interested in Sam Walker<\/p>\n
\u201cNot 100% sure. It\u2019s all pretty sudden. We\u2019ll see what happens on or after November 1 and if he is still available, we\u2019ll look at the asking price.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hasn\u2019t said no. He\u2019s left it wide open.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kangaroos stars set for open market | 02:58<\/p>\n
When you break it down, it\u2019s a move that makes sense.<\/p>\n
Not only are the Rabbitohs are halfback short of contending, but Souths coach Wayne Bennett handed Walker\u2019s dad Ben his first grade debut in 1995 and also coached Walker\u2019s two uncles Chris and Shane. <\/p>\n
Additionally, Bennett isn\u2019t averse to making a splash.<\/p>\n
The Bunnies also have a stack of cap space for 2028 with several players set to hit the open market on November 1.<\/p>\n
Campbell Graham, Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, David Fifita and Jayden Sullivan are just a handful of names contracted until the end of 2027 who have yet to ink extensions with the club.<\/p>\n
But what if Walker is forced out of the Roosters before next season?<\/p>\n
“Feels bigger than finals, this game” | 02:53<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t get Walker next year though,\u201d Rothfield stated, pointing to the limited room in their salary cap for 2027. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf dominoes fall and let\u2019s just say something was to happen to one of those three (Mitchell, Graham, Wighton), they\u2019ll free up some cap space by granting an early release,\u201d CODE Sports journalist David Riccio responded.<\/p>\n
If the Bunnies were to nab Walker, it\u2019ll be quite the storyline, given the fierce history of the Rabbitohs and Roosters.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll also no doubt leave a sour taste in the mouth at the Bondi club, particularly that of chairman Nick Politis, who torched the Roosters\u2019 recent contract offer for Walker.<\/p>\n
RUGBY AUSTRALIA EXPRESS INTEREST <\/p>\n
Could Walker consider a shock code switch?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unlikely, but Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh says their door is always open for talent from rival codes.<\/p>\n
Walker was a schoolboy rugby star for Ipswich Grammar before ultimately deciding he\u2019d pursue a career in league.<\/p>\n
With the Rugby World Cup next year, Waugh has expressed interest in adding Walker to the fray, even if it\u2019s just for 2027.<\/p>\n
Would Walker consider joining good mate Angus Crichton in rugby union?Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been consistent on this, about creating an environment where we want players, as many great players as we can, coming into rugby,\u201d Waugh told CODE Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019ve said it a million times, the door\u2019s open for athletes who want to achieve something great.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s one that\u2019s obviously achieved great things in rugby league. With his skill set, he\u2019s got the capability to play both codes at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walker\u2019s good friend and Roosters teammate Angus Crichton is making the switch next season, signing with the Waratahs but if Walker was to cross over to the 15-man code, it must be said, it would be a much bigger bombshell than the contract saga with the Roosters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Sam Walker sweepstakes are off and racing. The Roosters stunned the NRL world on Monday night when…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":643288,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[111,139,69,213],"class_list":["post-643287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=643287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/643288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=643287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=643287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=643287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}