Sam Walker is back on the side, but not exactly in the role many expected.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has handed the five-eighth jersey to Hugo Savala, opting to bring Walker back in at halfback and shifting utility Sandon Smith to the bench for Saturday’s clash against the Knights.
It’s a bold move that comes just as the Roosters look to steady their season amid a raft of Origin absentees.
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Walker, sidelined with a knee injury, had been tipped to slot straight into the No.6, but Robinson has opted for a slightly left-field reshuffle, one that keeps the returning playmaker in his preferred role.
Walker returns, but Savala stays
The surprise inclusion of Savala at five-eighth points to Robinson’s faith in the youngster’s development. With Connor Watson and Luke Keary out and Walker still building match fitness, the decision may be as much about balance as it is about form.
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Meanwhile, the Roosters get timely boosts with Nat Butcher and Naufahu Whyte also returning from injury. However, their forward stocks remain stretched with Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu both away on Origin duty.
For now, all eyes will be on Walker, not just to see how he pulls up physically, but whether Robinson’s reshuffle sparks the creative spark the Roosters have lacked in recent weeks.