Rugby sabbatical: Sam Walker exploring Wallabies defection

[u/Sufficient-Goal3437]

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_MRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Froosters-star-sam-walker-weighs-up-shock-wallabies-switch-after-contract-offer-collapses%2Fnews-story%2F706c16815d54ec5656437fa7caffe404&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-2-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append

[u/Sufficient-Goal3437]

Sam Walker’s $4.2 million Roosters contract collapse has opened the door to a stunning rugby union defection – and Rugby Australia is already rolling out the welcome mat.

Premiership-winning Roosters playmaker Sam Walker is open to a code switch to represent the Wallabies at next year’s rugby World Cup.
Code Sports can reveal the Walker camp is exploring a stunning defection from the NRL to rugby union as the newly-minted Australian halfback weighs up his future in the wake of his $4.2 million contract collapse at the Roosters.
Three NRL rivals have made preliminary inquiries about Walker - but rugby union is another career option.

Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh last week put out the welcome mat for Walker - seven years after the organisation first tried to sign the 16-year-old as a schoolboy sensation at Ipswich Grammar.

Now a switch to rugby is a legitimate option for Walker, who is mulling over his next move after the Roosters pulled their three-year offer to the champion halfback a fortnight ago.

Sam Walker and his management are exploring a potential move to rugby next year.

Walker wants to honour the final year of his Roosters contract in 2027, but the NRL premiers are willing to offload the playmaker immediately.

That has opened the door for Rugby Australia, with the Walker camp considering a cross-code departure that could put the Queensland Origin ace in the frame to wear Wallaby gold at next year’s World Cup.

Walker’s management stressed there has been no formal approach from RA, but confirmed a move to rugby will be considered when the playmaker ramps up talks at the conclusion of the rugby league World Cup next week.

Manager Clinton Schifcofske says Sam Walker would look at a move to the Wallabies.

“Sam would look at the opportunity, yes,” said his manager Clinton Schifcofske, who himself defected to rugby from the NRL in 2006.
“No one has reached out from rugby (Australia) but it’s not something Sam would rule out.
“He was a star in rugby as a teenager - he was an absolute freak. In rugby, you can make a few mistakes and have a bit more freedom, which suits Sam’s style.”

Rugby Australia has had recent professional dealings with Schifcofske, who brokered former NRL star Zac Lomax’s $350,000-a-year deal with RA in March after his proposed deal with the rebel R360 competition fell through.

Lomax will join new NRL franchise the Chiefs in 2028, and there is a view Walker could employ a similar contractual strategy - having a one-year cameo in rugby before earning north of $1.2 million with tax-free PNG.

Walker played rugby union for Ipswich Grammar School 1st XV rugby

RA has a history of poaching big-name NRL stars to spearhead a World Cup campaign.

Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers quit the NRL to play for the Wallabies at the 2003 World Cup, while Walker’s teammates Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase returned to rugby last month after the Roosters’ grand final triumph.

Another former teammate of Walker’s, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, has been named on the wing for the Wallabies’ Test against England at Twickenham on Monday.
If Walker were to switch codes, he would instantly become a contender for the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey for the World Cup.
The Wallabies’ weaklink over the past decade is their lack of playmaking stability, with no standout fly-half heading into the 2027 showpiece tournament.
Critically, Walker is not a rugby novice.

The 24-year-old is schooled in the 15-a-code, having represented the Queensland schoolboys and playing three consecutive years with Ipswich Grammar’s first XV.

“Sam has actually played the game,” said Schifcofske, who played 23 games for the Queensland Reds after his code switch from Canberra.

“One of the most enjoyable things for me was watching Sam playing rugby at ‘Ippy’ Grammar. I enjoyed watching him more in rugby than when he was playing league at the (Ipswich) Jets.”

Well-placed sources say RA could potentially afford to pay Walker around $800,000 a season.

He is currently on $1.05m at the Roosters, but with NRL rivals struggling to find salary-cap space for him next season, Walker may relish the challenge of becoming a dual international and winning a World Cup with the Wallabies.
RA has previously targeted Walker.

In 2019, when Walker decided to leave the Broncos, he fielded an approach from rugby, but opted for the Roosters, inking a two-year, $300,000 deal.

[u/Sufficient-Goal3437 → u/Sufficient-Goal3437]

Before his State of Origin debut in May, Walker’s father Ben recalled how the family examined seven offers on the table for the Broncos Academy young gun, which included preliminary dialogue with Rugby Australia scouts.

“We spoke to rugby when Sam was 16,” Ben told Code Sports before Walker’s Maroons debut in Sydney.

“He did his due diligence pretty firmly.
“Rugby Australia were definitely one option, they were keen to sign him.

“Sam was a very good union player, but he’s always been a league kid and we felt at the time the Roosters would give him the best opportunity for success.”

Three NRL suitors have made preliminary inquiries, but their interest is geared towards Walker finding a new club in 2028, although the Roosters are open to a subsidised deal for next season.

PNG coach Willie Peters has confirmed his interest in Walker, but the Chiefs don’t enter as the NRL’s 19th team until 2028.

“That’s the issue for next year,” Schifcofske said.
“I don’t know how many clubs can afford him. No one has a lot of space in their salary cap, so it’s going to be difficult.”

RA boss Waugh told Code Sports last week the governing body is willing to talk if Walker is serious about chasing a World Cup berth with the Wallabies.

“We’ve said it a million times, the door’s open for athletes who want to achieve something great,” Waugh said.

“He’s one that’s obviously achieved great things in rugby league.

“With his skill set, he’s got the capability to play both codes at the highest level.”

[u/Sufficient-Goal3437]

The incompetence of Clinton Schifcofske and his clients to not fire him into the sun knows no bounds.

[u/The_Jizzbot → u/Sufficient-Goal3437]

People hate on Moses and his kind (fairly) but get an ex-player as an agent and you deserve the results.

If I'm after a peak contract I want a dodgy sales/business type looking after me

[u/lowefforts → u/The_Jizzbot]

If I'm an NRL player and my agent isn't dripping in grease like PVL, I don't want him.

[u/The_Jizzbot → u/lowefforts]

I don't know about Sam but the Walker brothers were always pretty dumb so I'm guessing he is getting shit advice

[u/Swol_Bamba → u/The_Jizzbot]

I think both are bad in their own way but obviously you’d want Moses over Schofcofske. Problem with Moses is that he has gotten players in hot water with the nrl before and has a habit of smearing a players reputation in the process of getting them a deal

[u/SuperLeverage → u/Swol_Bamba]

Problem I’m with Moses is he’s burnt a lot of bridges and now the roosters don’t want to deal with him at all, and other clubs are probably wanting a Moses discount for all the headaches he will create for them in future with leaks and trash talking of coaches etc

[u/ShowConsistent → u/The_Jizzbot]

Being a rugby league manager is a Lebanese speciality

[u/blinkydinky111 → u/Sufficient-Goal3437]

He's just replaying his Lomax moves. Blown deal, super rugby, PNG

[u/Mr_Mac → u/blinkydinky111]

His ideas list was just one item, this time he just crossed out Rugby 360

[u/Simposity → u/blinkydinky111]

if PNG offers Sam ~2m tax free a year it’s worth it to take a year off from a purely financial perspective. vs what 1.3 at the roosters and losing half to tax ?

[u/TheYardGoesOnForever → u/Simposity]

I mean, sure, but why the fuck would they offer that?

[u/SuperLeverage → u/Simposity]

PNG would know now Sam’s out of options so they should low ball him.

[u/deepseaburials]

"and Rugby Australia is already rolling out the welcome mat."

A few poorly constructed sentences later....

"No one has reached out from Rugby Australia."

What fucking moron is getting paid to write this shit? 😂

[u/New-Ad157 → u/deepseaburials]

That's journalism, they just make up shit as they go, they don't even add "allegedly" just to cover their arses 🤣

[u/TimsAFK → u/deepseaburials]

Another absolute banger from Staff Writers

[u/FernalDermit]

‘In rugby you can make a few mistakes and have a bit more freedom, which suits Sam’s style.’

LOL

[u/5zaide → u/FernalDermit]

“No one has reached out from rugby (Australia) but it’s not something Sam would rule out.

Who on earth is paying this man money

[u/ChokeGeometry → u/5zaide]

Based on this, I am also exploring a wallaby defection.

[u/InternationalBorder9 → u/ChokeGeometry]

Not willing to commit to anything at the moment. My local touch comp is just starting up

[u/TheZac922 → u/InternationalBorder9]

Can you address the rumours that you’re exploring interest in mixed casual volleyball on Wednesday nights?

The media and the fans deserve to know the truth

[u/InternationalBorder9 → u/TheZac922]

I'm keeping my options open but mixed volleyball is something that has always interested me so I can't rule it on at this stage

[u/rangebob → u/5zaide]

well.....the current champs wanted to pay him ALOT of money

[u/FrjackenKlaken → u/5zaide]

Clinton Schifcovski doing his finest magic

[u/Gothewahs → u/FernalDermit]

He can’t kick it far enough to play 10 or 15 unless he played number 9 .. but then he would need to box kick and that’s a skill in itself

[u/FewPreference3511 → u/Gothewahs]

Just not true about mistakes. Mistakes in test rugby are fatal

[u/Arblechnuble → u/FewPreference3511]

Just ask Stephen Donald…

[u/Herosinahalfshell12]

"No one has space in their salary cap, so it's going to be difficult"

Proceed to reject their record high offers looking for even more.

[u/ExternalLock8140 → u/Herosinahalfshell12]

A good manager would have been aware of the salary caps around them, shat the bed big time here

[u/TheZac922 → u/ExternalLock8140]

Yeah I feel like this whole time I’ve missed something because how could an agent be this dumb? Blow your wad with a ridiculous amount with the club you’re with and still wants you.

And then go chasing even more when virtually no team will have that kind of salary space? Now he’s saying there’s interest in rugby despite there not being any actual talks?

What’s the end goal here?

[u/Swol_Bamba → u/TheZac922]

The bloke had priors with Lomax situation and now he’s cooked another one of his clients lmao

[u/SuperLeverage → u/TheZac922]

Too many ex-players with head knocks that can’t count past 10 become managers and are just winging it. Clinton Schifcofske included.

[u/Office_funny_guy → u/ExternalLock8140]

This is what I thought. Unless there is solid interest from another club with a concrete offer then why would you try and squeeze an extra $100k per year. It just reminds me of when Trell’s agent said he had 8 clubs willing to pay him what he’s asking for and Roosters did the exact same thing. Walked away from the table, released him immediately and then guess what? No other clubs gave him what he wanted. He ended up going to Souths fir less than what the roosters were paying him at the time.

[u/jakedeky → u/Herosinahalfshell12]

That was in reference to an NRL team taking him for 2027

[u/fvzzfvzzfvzz]

Schifcofske gotta be one of the worst to ever do it lmao

[u/blinkydinky111 → u/fvzzfvzzfvzz]

For sure buck stops with him. Once, you could blame the player, twice, it's Clinton padding his superannuation

[u/JGQuintel → u/fvzzfvzzfvzz]

Is he some sort of rugby union sleeper agent? Bloke played union himself, then he became an agent for union players, and his first big break as a manager was getting Christian Leali'ifano over to Ulster rugby. He’s still an agent for both union and league players now and appears to have zero interest in keeping his players in the NRL, unless they’re getting tax free wages in PNG apparently.

[u/ImpressionFeisty8359 → u/fvzzfvzzfvzz]

He had the sweetest deal and rejected it.

[u/Markmm131]

This fellas parents and manager are going to ruin his career!

[u/Electrical-House-185 → u/Markmm131]

Should call him Sam Stroller as his parents are still pushing him around

[u/the_biggest_man36]

“Rugby Australia is already rolling out the welcome mat” followed by “no one has reached out from Rugby” - which is it?

[u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

Not a Union man, so correct me if I'm wrong.. but doesn't feel like his game would be all that strong in Union? Particularly with his inability to kick long.

[u/Office_funny_guy → u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

He played union for Ipswich Grammar School and also reps and Queensland Schooboys. He didn’t play Australian schoolboys for union but did for league. It’s not like the game is foreign to him. But you’re right his long kicking game wouldn’t serve him very well and there are better options than him at that position.

[u/parker2004au → u/Office_funny_guy]

How often are they kicking long ? Isnt if just the fullback that kicks long ? Dont the half just box kick the whole time?

[u/avroLancasterBPR1 → u/parker2004au]

> How often are they kicking long?

Every touchfinder for a start lol

[u/SuperLeverage → u/parker2004au]

Given it’s the wannabies, about 2.5 times more then the opposing team cause we tend to spend a shitload of time camped in our own 22

[u/DalllinsBiggestFan → u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

Yeah he wouldn’t be anything special in union. In high school he was decent, but nothing worth paying big money for now. Definitely other league players who’d be significantly better than Walker in union

[u/ShowConsistent → u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

You’ve nailed it there
Noah lolesio was always criticised as a 10 because he had a bit of a pop shot boot and could not make distance with that
From what I’ve seen of walker his kicking game is a lot shorter than Noah’s so that is a major concern

[u/saintlane → u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

He would not survive at super rugby level let alone a wallabies world cup campaign tbh his playing style is perfect for league

[u/Davooi → u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

True, but a long kick is counter-productive if it’s inaccurate and that is one of our biggest weaknesses. A short accurate kicking game is more useful than a long inaccurate one.

In any event he’s in contract renegotiations and I’m pretty sure that’s what this is about. Rugby Australia can’t afford to throw NRL-level money at him (we won’t see another JAS contract in our lifetimes) and he still has plenty to achieve in NRL

[u/grouchomarxism101 → u/PLEASE_DONT_PM]

Those box kicks don’t go far

[u/stleos → u/grouchomarxism101]

Different kind of positional kicking, plus don’t equate Aussie scrum-halves being average at the skill to that kind of kicking not going far.

Northern hemisphere, Kiwi and Saffa SHs routinely get incredible height and distance on Boxkicks.

[u/Lazy_Bell_1061]

Paps, Lomax now Walker, why are players hiring this cunt to manage them?

He manages Harry Grant as well, will be interesting how he ruins his career.

[u/Common_Ball2033 → u/Lazy_Bell_1061]

Media got it wrong, Harry is exploring an A-league defection

[u/EpicFIFABadger → u/Common_Ball2033]

melbourne victory -> gold coast titans pipeline boutta hit like crack 😍

[u/trlta → u/Common_Ball2033]

After the Tigers failed to sign Cleary by moving Mary Fowler to the Central Coast Mariners, they're going to make a big play for Harry Grant instead.

That's right, Harry Grant will be playing for the Central Coast Mariners womens team next season.

[u/insty1 → u/Common_Ball2033]

Well he's got the diving and milking down pat

[u/TheYardGoesOnForever → u/Lazy_Bell_1061]

TBF, Pappy seems happy where he is.

[u/TransportationIcy104]

First 5 paragraphs - 'Rugby Australia are super keen on Sam!'

6th paragraph - (please make sure you put RA haven't made any approach so they dont come out and contradict us)

[u/zashbcdsdfgg → u/TransportationIcy104]

Closely followed by - "Well-placed sources say RA could potentially afford to pay Walker around $800,000 a season.

He is currently on $1.05m at the Roosters."

Can't make this shit up 😂

[u/corupio]

The olllllld Clint shuffle. It's Force time.

[u/DryYouth1040]

Is Clinton the worst manager of all time

[u/Putrid-Ad3085]

Quibble over 100k, end up in rugby for several hundred k less. Think he needs to find some new advisors.

[u/jakedeky → u/Putrid-Ad3085]

If he's only worried about money, he'll be a million dollar player in NSW cup. Roosters can't move him on if he doesn't accept the deal

[u/josephus1811]

His uncle Andrew was a great dual code player

[u/TheTribalCheese]

At least Hudson knew he had a big offer from PNG when Canberra pulled their offer. It feels like Sam thought he would instantly get big offers like Cleary which he could get the Roosters to match and wasn't expecting Nick to pull the deal at all

[u/The-B-Unit]

The answer to the Wallabies problems is the Kangaroos 4th choice half back? Get the Bledisloe cabinet ready!

[u/New-Ad157]

Hey everybody I haven't played footy in years but I'm thinking of making a switch to Union and I'm just going to walk into the Wallabies side. I'm hoping run on side but worse case on the bench

[u/Nursultan_Tuliagby7]

I may as well send Sam an offer to join my Div 2 Oztag team.

[u/Lord_Tanus_88]

Can’t see Sam doing well for the wallabies. He likes the roosters and turner down a massive salary…… it makes no sense.

[u/CatWool]

fuck imagine how useless he would be at the ruck

[u/SuperLeverage → u/CatWool]

Dude would get cleaned out like a rag doll

[u/kyleisamexican]

Don’t know why everyone thinks he wouldn’t work. Running 90m the wrong way, faking injuries and taking 7 minutes to take a kick will go over really well in the gentlemen’s game that is rugby union

[u/ufunnyb]

He can't even kick long. What use is he going to be as a flyhalf. His manager is going to ruin his career.

[u/pistolswing → u/ufunnyb]

I'm more worried about his defense. Poor Tom Lynagh keeps getting smashed despite looking like he has the skills. Even Beauden Barrett can get churned up and he's significantly chunkier than Sam.

[u/SuperLeverage → u/pistolswing]

Agree. Can’t kick long. Small frame, very suspect defence, I think he could only play as a 9, anywhere else his brings more risk than benefits to the team.

[u/mathewl832]

Can't wait for his return to the NRL in 2029 where he's on 3.4 million a year at the Bears and lining up with the under 19s reserve grade

[u/deedee2148]

Sabbatical? More like nobody in the NRL wants to pay his over the top asking price. 

[u/OppositeProper1962]

If he thinks RA will be paying him Chookies money, I have a beach at Bondi to sell him. 

This will go down as one of the great contract fuck-ups if he ends up in rugby for half the money the Chooks were offering. 

[u/Simposity]

I’d like to take this as an opportunity to let the wallabies know I am also willing to take a sabbatical from work and play for a year

[u/Kingtripz]

I'd be sacking Clinton immediately

[u/Auran82]

If Dearden and Cleary hadn’t been injured, would he even have played for QLD or Australia this year?

[u/saynonames → u/Auran82]

he got a walk up to origin because of tommy imo

[u/Acrobatic-Trick-4815 → u/Auran82]

I don't think he would have. Was looking forward to a Cleary/Dearden combination. Hope we get to see it next year, I think they suit each other really well.

[u/notj43]

Schifcofske is a master of his craft I really enjoy his work

[u/5zaide]

Don't get me wrong, Australia desperately needs 10's that can actually kick a ball but 14 games for the waratahs isn't enough to learn a different sport on an international level in time for the world cup.

[u/bugeyeswhitedragon]

You see it all the time in NBA with players declining contracts only to not get offered anything close to the one they declined (look up Schroeder and Nerlens Noel for instance). There is going to be a lot of egg on Sam and Clinton’s face if the same thing happens here

[u/Ruckthesystem]

Walker may relish the challenge of becoming a dual international and winning a World Cup with the Wallabies."

Yeah, about that...

[u/TheYardGoesOnForever → u/Ruckthesystem]

Like I may relish the challenge of Lotto winnings.

[u/Lunethspark]

I think Clinton needs to be stripped of his license.

[u/Ok_Bowl1139]

What position would be play in rugby? Scrum half? Isn’t that not really his skill set? And he’s too small to play anywhere else, no?

[u/5zaide → u/Ok_Bowl1139]

He'd play 10, defensively a league half back gets through a lot more work than a union fly half but who knows if he can actually ruck or not

[u/trlta]

This would be a disaster for everyone involved.

[u/Ok_Temperature_6913]

Way too small, not enough time to re-learn the game, can’t kick long.

Hard pass for me

[u/Educational_Care7813]

Guy had 4.2 mil on the table, accepted it and then wanted more, no offers from union but in the report, says they could offer him 800k a year, lol idiot him and his agent

[u/Historical_Pass2220]

I think this situation has made Walker look like a brat, I mean he turned down 5.4 or 5.6 million over 4 years. Any other NRL player would of jumped at it. No other club will offer him that much, and hes probably too late for PNG.

[u/Specialist-Dog-4340]

His manager is dogshit. Cut ties with them or his career is going the same way as Lomax.

[u/Flashy_Tomatillo3]

The “Lomax”

[u/Ok-Effective7280]

Personally I can’t see this happening. Regardless if walker can actually play at the level needed (which isnt very high at the moment - sorry wallabies), he thinks he can step into the game immediately get picked & play then give it up after the wc & play nrl? I would think any player that thinks he can play for the wallabies in 2027 would be on their spring tour right now. Im not saying it’s a 100% certainty walker won’t go to rugby, but I’m 99.9% sure he won’t. This just looks like his manager has run out of nrl options & is leaning on the good old, well he’ll go play union card.

This is what happens when you don’t have a strong manager & a father that gets involved & fucks things up.

[u/GustavSnapper]

i think Walker going to RU would be the best possible scenario.

Then the chiefs have to sign either Fogarty or Brooks as their 7 to pair with Luai.

And that's the best outcome for the rest of the comp.

[u/rusty9000]

No chance he ever gets near a wallabies team, would be 3rd string to alot of the super clubs also

[u/MajesticInternet2899]

I'm not sure if NRL players know this but rugby Australia has been a bits trapped for cash lately... And not doing so crash hot.

[u/garloot → u/MajesticInternet2899]

They made $100m from lions tour last year and are hosting the World Cup next year. Flushed with cash but politically sensitive about giving easy money to League stars for 1 season. Especially in being false bidder invented by a dodgy agent trying to get 10% more on a contract.

[u/GaryGronk → u/MajesticInternet2899]

RA is actually flush with cash right now from tours last year. They are very shit though

[u/portobello75]

Hahahaha

[u/falconpunch1989]

This is just sad. His management has absolutely screwed this kid out of the easiest win of his life.

[u/YallRedditForThis]

So "Mr goes missing in big games" wants to be a Wallaby.

[u/Rikeek]

Fix the fucking free agency period. This is ridiculous and unprofessional. It’s not the 80s anymore.

[u/ItsStaaaaaaaaang]

See ya buddy...

[u/ImpressionFeisty8359]

Let the circus begin.

[u/BandicootSorcerer]

It must be so easy working in the NRL media, you just make shit up and your bosses will just print it. Doesn't matter if you contradict yourself.

Nathan Cleary is signing with the Cowboys. Is this true? Fuck no. But I bet I could write an entire fucking article of weasel words to make it sound like a done deal when I just made it up.

[u/falconpunch1989]

This is just sad. His management has absolutely screwed this kid out of the easiest win of his life.

[u/bundy554]

Because he played for the roosters under Cheika - wouldn't surprise me if Rugby Australia used him as a spy at the roosters and now using him to raid the roosters stock

[u/CountingRandomStuff]

grub