Walker's Big Game in Origin
It was written by Jon Healy.
The topic is State of Origin.
It was published on June 18, 2026, at 7:36 am.
Sam Walker plays rugby like a kid, even at a high level.
On April 1, Billy Slater posted a nice picture on Instagram.
In the picture, Slater was lying on the grass, petting his dog, and drinking coffee.
There was a football under his back, which hinted at his rugby life.
After finishing his coffee, Slater might have stood up and walked away with the football.
The scene was perfect, but it was time to start working.
The State of Origin talk starts early, and coaches like Slater need to be ready.
This year, Slater had a problem when Tom Dearden got hurt before Game I.
Queensland won the second game with 36 points in the second half.
Slater had a few options to replace Dearden, but they were not ideal.
Daly Cherry-Evans, Jamal Fogarty, and Jake Clifford were possible choices.
All three are experienced players who could have helped the team.
But Slater chose Sam Walker, which was a bit surprising.
Walker is still learning and growing as a player.
It has taken the Roosters a long time to figure out how to use Walker effectively.
In the first game, Walker helped the team get a strong start.
In the second game, Walker played well even when the team was behind.
Walker has a unique playing style that can be both good and bad.
He is not afraid to try new things and take risks.
When Munster was out of the game, Walker had to lead the team.
But the team struggled without Munster, and Walker had some problems.
Walker is still a young player and has a lot to learn.
He needs to work on his long-kicking game and other skills.
Despite some mistakes, Walker showed that he can play at a high level.
Slater got to see how Walker would play without Munster, which was valuable.
Sometimes things just work out, and that's what happened in this game.
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