{"id":67370,"date":"2026-08-07T20:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/67370\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:13:10","slug":"nrl-2026-sam-walkers-contract-negotiation-distraction-heading-into-finals-sydney-roosters-premiership-chances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/67370\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL 2026: Sam Walker\u2019s contract negotiation \u2018distraction\u2019 heading into finals, Sydney Roosters premiership chances"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cooper Cronk believes Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker\u2019s contract negotiations shouldn\u2019t be a \u201cdistraction\u201d in the coming months as the Roosters look primed for a premiership push.<\/p>\n

The Roosters claimed a 20-18 win over the Bulldogs on Friday night to draw level with Penrith on top of the ladder with 15 wins, setting up a blockbuster clash next Thursday that could decide the NRL minor premiership. <\/p>\n

Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n

A week after Walker scored 36 points in the 70-point thrashing of the Cowboys for the largest individual points haul by a Rooster in the NRL era, the halfback wasn\u2019t at his best against the Bulldogs. <\/p>\n

The 24-year-old is contracted until the end of next season but is free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1, but Roosters chairman Nick Politis is keen re-sign Walker on a deal that could be worth $1.35 million per season.<\/p>\n

Walker\u2019s next contract is expected to have ratchet clauses that would see his salary rise in line with a salary cap increase, that could be as high as $20 million for 2028 as a result of the NRL\u2019s new broadcast deal. <\/p>\n

\u201cSam Walker comes off one of the most brilliant individual performances we\u2019ve seen in the NRL era and tonight didn\u2019t quite hit the same notes,\u201d host Yvonne Sampson said on Kayo Sports.<\/p>\n

Watch the discussion about Sam Walker in the video above<\/p>\n

\u201cRoosters supremo Nick Politis said even before last week\u2019s performance he wants Sam Walker to be a Rooster for life and he wants the deal done before November 1. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe way Sam went around in Origin had a big sway in how they see the future and they want him to be a Rooster.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is bubbling away, it\u2019s unresolved. It\u2019s just another thing he\u2019s got to cope with. He\u2019s pretty carefree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former Broncos coach Kevin Walters pondered whether Walker\u2019s contract negotiations would be a distraction in the lead-up to finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the contract saga around him, is that draining him or is that a concern?,\u201d Walters said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been at the Roosters since he was a kid and he hasn\u2019t re-signed before he comes off on November 1. Is that a distraction for a player? I\u2019m not sure why it hasn\u2019t been sorted at the Roosters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cooper Cronk quipped: \u201cWith $20 million in the back pocket? Can\u2019t be concerned with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manly Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic said: \u201cI don\u2019t know Sam personally so I can\u2019t comment on how he\u2019s feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I know for myself if my negotiations were playing out in the media, especially if it\u2019s during the year, it would concern me a little bit and I guess it would take my attention off it (football).<\/p>\n

\u201cBut people deal with that stuff differently. He\u2019s been playing really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cronk, who won premierships with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019, said the Tricolours should be primed for their best shot at a premiership since he hung up the boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s an issue, it\u2019s just working through the numbers\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Roosters are the closest they\u2019ve been to winning a premiership than they have been in a long time, so if you\u2019re getting distracted by a contract, that\u2019s the wrong mindset to be in. There is a lot of other things to focus on. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe would understand. Tedesco, Cherry-Evans has been brought there for a reason. September is the most important thing right now, not whether you sign on the dotted line. If it gets done before November 1 great, if it doesn\u2019t, it does not worry. Both parties will get to the table and work it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The jury is still out on whether Walker can deliver a premiership and his price tag may only skyrocket if he can take the Roosters all the way this season. <\/p>\n

Walker didn’t play like a $1.3 million halfback against the Bulldogs, with Cronk pointing out: \u201cI thought he looked frustrated in the second half.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing he tends to go to when he gets frustrated is kicks for himself and things like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s had a big year I probably feel he\u2019s low on energy off the back of Origin.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s about to find out with Penrith next week and a ramp up to September. I think he\u2019ll get back to his best. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a completely different game (to the Cowboys). He got that kick in the end for (Salesi) Foketi, but he looked a bit frustrated, a couple of errors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Yeo<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a disappointing performance from us, we were far from our best,\u201d Walker told Channel 9 post-game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to get the win in those scrappy games but we\u2019ve got be a lot better than that if we\u2019re going to do anything this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said: \u201cWe can play better, I want to play better than we did tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penrith captain Isaah Yeo suffered a suspect pectoral injury<\/a> in his side\u2019s 28-12 loss to the Warriors and after looking like the team to beat all season, the Panthers suddenly look vulnerable heading into next week\u2019s top-of-the-table clash.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next game against Penrith is the biggest game for the Roosters in a long time,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are tied at the top, they haven\u2019t been big in September for a few years. Penrith are the Roosters\u2019 kryptonite. If they get the victory over Ivan and Nathan, all of a sudden you can beat Penrith in a prelim final.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read related topics:Sydney<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cooper Cronk believes Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker\u2019s contract negotiations shouldn\u2019t be a \u201cdistraction\u201d in the coming 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