Walker’s on for Roosters, Marky Mark his words
Joel Gould |
Sydney Roosters half Sam Walker had plenty of incentive to get back from a serious knee injury, but one top priority was the prospect of playing with freakish Mark Nawaqanitawase.
Walker on the left is creating opportunities and general havoc. Former Wallabies star Nawaqanitawase, known as “Marky Mark”, on the right wing is turning the impossible into reality and making it look ridiculously easy.
If the two can link up at any point in the ninth-placed Roosters’ run to the finals, which Walker has on his bucket list, then look out.
Walker used to play on the right side of the field when Luke Keary was at the club, but now he’s on the left side, with impressive five-eighth Hugo Savala on the right.
Walker has already set up left winger Daniel Tupou for tries on his return from an ACL and broken thumb, and now he’s looking to do the same for Marky Mark, who scored a hat-trick in the 64-12 win over the Dolphins on Saturday night.
“He’s freaky. He’s special,” Walker said.
“I was very excited to play with him … the most excited I’ve been to be able to play with someone. Just watching what he does on the field and watching what he does at training and stuff – it’s very impressive and I’m loving being out there with him.
“They’ve chucked me on the other edge.
“I don’t get to hang out with him too much, but I’ll definitely be looking at trying to connect with him a bit more.”
When Walker was in his early teens he used to train at the Ipswich Jets as his father Ben and uncle Shane Walker took the team through their paces.
In the line-up was a razzle-dazzle Fijian centre, Nemani Valekapa, who played in the Jets’ 2015 premiership-winning side.
Walker was in awe of Valekapa’s step and flair and would throw him out-balls at training and put him through holes.
Valekapa, when injured, would wrap himself in a “magical” giant leaf from Fiji to fast-track his healing. His magic on the field was a sight to behold.
It’s another level with Nawaqanitawase, who also has Fijian heritage.
“He goes after the game and that’s what we love about him and why he’s one of the best wingers in the game,” Walker said.
Walker has 12 try assists in his five games this year, the same number as Penrith’s Nathan Cleary in 16 matches.
He is forging a nice combination with five-eighth Savala.
“I spend a fair bit of time with him at the moment and he’s a really exciting footballer to play with, his kicking game’s unbelievable,” Walker said.
“He’s got great composure as well for someone so early into his career, and I’m really looking forward to building my combinations with him … he allows me to play my natural game.
“I feel like my performance each week is sort of building and getting better and better and slowly starting to get to the footy that I want to be able to play.
“It’s an exciting group we have got at the moment and we’re building at the right time.”
The Roosters host Canterbury on Friday night in a match they must win to keep their top-eight hopes alive.
AAP
