Sam Walker has hinted that he plans to re-sign with the Sydney Roosters before the NRL’s November 1 signing deadline, and will put pen to paper once he wraps up his World Cup campaign with Australia.
“The plan is definitely to stay. I’m fortunate enough to have a really good managing team that will look after that for me, and I’m sure Nick [Politis] and them [the Roosters’ retention team] will be able to get something going and do the work in the background while I can focus on my football,” he said.
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“It’s obviously such a professional club, and our motto is, ‘We play for premierships.’ And that’s what I want to be a part of… It’s obviously such a special club.”
The only question is whether Walker wants to chase money. While Sydney had negotiated a $5 million contract extension that would have kept the young gun at the tricolours until 2031, that petered out mid-season. Walker then played a huge role in Sydney’s 2026 premiership, giving him more bargaining power.
Lurking around the corners is Papua New Guinea, which has vocally said the club would love to play superstars like Walker big pay cheques — all tax-free, under an incredible NRL deal — to lead their expansion campaigns.
“Fingers crossed, over the next little period we’ll be able to get something done. For now, I’m focused on getting myself right, and we’ve got to prepare for a game on Thursday, so it’s not the time right now to be thinking about it. But I’m sure that time will come in the next couple of weeks,” Walker said.
“It’s been a full-on week,” he added. “Celebrating winning the grand final with the boys was something pretty special, and to achieve a lifelong dream was unbelievable.”
Walker’s World Cup campaign will start on the bench, after Mitchell Moses and Cameron Munster were given the first run in the halves against New Zealand.
The 24-year-old will most likely get a starting role as the tournament rolls on in October.
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