This was always going to be Sam Walker’s trial by fire; the unveiling of whether the traits he shared with a legend could be transferred to the State of Origin arena.
Yet, with the weight of Queensland on his shoulder, the young halfback silenced his critics and vindicated the faith entrusted in him by Billy Slater, with only one of the most controversial send-offs in the series’ history denying him a winning debut.
Long lauded as the heir apparent to the great Allan Langer, Walker displayed the same tenacity and creative kicking game that made the latter one of rugby league’s most endeared figures.
He was always going to be a target in defence, an aspect of his game which was scrutinised heavily in the build up to Wednesday’s clash, but responded to every challenge thrown his way – holding his own against Blues back-rower Hudson Young, and missing just three tackles while making three.
His steady kicking game also slowly but surely kept NSW pinned in their end throughout the first half, and errors began to creep into their game on the back of the Maroons’ defence to complement Walker’s boot.
On the back of that, the Roosters No.7 let his football do the talking.
It took eight minutes for the Langer comparisons to rear, after his bomb to keep the Blues on the defensive forced a mistake out of Stephen Crichton. Walker’s early grubber behind the line was swooped on by Robert Toia, and Queensland were humming.
Shortly after, following a break from Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Walker latched onto a late Harry Grant offload on last play before firing a pass for a rampaging Thomas Flegler to score – in what was the prop’s first Origin appearance in 1071 days on his comeback from nerve damage in his shoulder.
It was then Walker’s bomb which drew a knock on from James Tedesco, with the fresh set gifting Cameron Munster the chance to put an early grubber in of his own for Tabuai-Fidow to score his 12th Origin try.
When the young halfback then slotted a penalty goal, his state suddenly had a 20-0 lead. It wasn’t until Kalyn Ponga was controversially sent off by referee Ashley Klein in the 57th minute – seemingly leading with his shoulder to cover Tolu Koula, but replays suggesting the contact was a head clash – that opened the door for the Blues to get back in the contest, as second-half tries to Ethan Strange, Nathan Cleary and Tedesco at the death stole the 22-20 triumph.
But not only was Walker making his Origin debut with the likes of Wayne Bennett and Darren Lockyer likening him to Langer – which he boldly claimed to embrace rather than shy from – but he was stepping into the jersey vacated by injured Wally Lewis Medal winner Tom Dearden.
Dearden had been the linchpin of Queensland’s shock series triumph last year, unseating skipper Daly Cherry-Evans after the game one defeat, before pulling the strings to secure the most unlikely of victories.
When the Cowboys co-captain succumbed to a syndesmosis injury, one which may still keep him sidelined for game two, and the fears came out that the Maroons would lack the resilience, flair and guidance to succeed without him.
Walker has not just shut down those concerns, but ensured that even if Dearden is fit in time for the second clash in Melbourne on June 17 he is no guarantee to walk back into his jumper.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
