Source :- THE AGE NEWS
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 coach 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.
“The longer the week went on, the more I felt really confident he would play like that. He’s a clever little player – he’s tough, he dives into all the team things, but then he brings his game,” Slater said of Walker.
“He unlocks players, and we saw that tonight. I’m looking forward to him getting some more opportunities and playing some more footy at this level.”
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.
“It is what it is, I thought it might have been head on head with the split on KP’s ear, but the referee and the Bunker saw it differently,” Maroons skipper Munster said of the send-off, referring to the blood on Ponga following the incident.
“At the end of the day, rules are rules and unfortunately, there was a bit of force to his head. Me looking at it, I thought it was head on head, but the ref’s got to make a split decision.”
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.
“He was unreal for us. Sammy was good in that first half, and unfortunately, we probably didn’t help him and just tried to protect our lead instead of playing a bit of footy,” Munster said.
“When you have 12 men, it kind of takes a bit of gas out of you.”
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