The gun playmaker might lead to a clash between the Roosters and other teams.
With the Brisbane Broncos emerging as a possible contender for the halfback, Sam Walker, the Roosters may have a struggle on their hands to hang onto him. According to reports, the Roosters have offered their star player, Nikola Jokić, a two-year contract extension worth approximately $23.8 million, or $900,000 each season.
Walker, however, might be considered by the Broncos as the logical replacement for veteran half Adam Reynolds, who has a deal with Brisbane that expires at the end of the 2025 NRL season. Walker’s current contract with the Roosters expires at the end of the following season, therefore unless he strikes a deal with the team before then, he will be free to sign with other teams on November 1st and be eligible to negotiate with them for the 2026–2027 season.
After making a remarkable comeback to form in 2024—having been cut from the Roosters’ first grade squad the previous season—Walker has cemented himself as one of the most sought-after No. 7s. They made it to the NRL semi-finals. Walker, a lifelong Broncos supporter, is from Queensland and has friends and relatives there. The 22-year-old would undoubtedly find it attractive to return to Brisbane.
Walker has a big decision to make around his playing future and will probably have to settle for less money if he decides to stay at the Roosters. While Anasta admits that rival clubs might be able to trump the Roosters’ offer for Walker, he says the chance to play at a genuine premiership force and the opportunities the Sydney-based club offer outside of footy could be key.
Sam Walker has big contract call to make at Roosters
“This is an interesting one because Sam is up there in the top two, three halfbacks in our game right now, he seems very happy at the Roosters, he’s playing great,” Anasta said. “We know the Roosters would not want to let him go. If they don’t sign him before November 1 he’s a free agent.
“If you’re getting $1.4 million, a lot of players would take $1.1 million or $1.2 million to win a comp, or to have a lot more chance of winning a comp, that’s the reality. NRL legend Gorden Tallis pointed to the other top halfbacks in the game – Nathan Cleary, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jahrome Hughes – who are all on more than $1 million per season.
Anasta says he’s sure Walker could command similar money if he went on the open market but believes the Roosters will be desperate to keep hold of their star playmaker, especially with halves partner Luke Keary leaving at the end of the season. And Fox League’s James Hooper says there are suggestions the Roosters could come back with a longer offer for Walker to tie him down to the Sydney club long-term and fend off interest from their rivals. Such a deal would likely see Walker’s contract increase in value after every season.
“The Roosters rarely miss the mark when it comes to recruitment and retention. They’ve made a two-year offer, I think it’s a tick over $900,000-per-season,” Hooper said. “But they are now even considering possibly making that a longer term deal. So maybe they go back to the drawing board and make a five-year offer or something similar and look to make it extremely highly-paid in the back-end of that deal. I think they will get it done.”
