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Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sam Walker learns fate after sin-binning on NRL return
Sydney Roosters star Sam Walker has avoided spending even more time on the sidelines after dodging suspension for his cannonball-style tackle on David Klemmer. Injury-stricken Walker was sin-binned during his first game for 314 days and so faced a nervous wait after the 31-24 defeat of St George Illawarra at Kogarah Oval. After full-time on Saturday, the 23-year-old told reporters it was "a bit ridiculous" to have been sent for 10 minutes for the shot, which Roosters coach Trent Robinson also downplayed. "It didn't feel bad at all. I've made that tackle a million times and it's never been a penalty," Walker said. "I personally think (the sin-binning) is a bit ridiculous ... There's not a world where I'm trying to hurt David Klemmer in a tackle like that." On Sunday, the match review committee opted against charging Walker altogether. A cannonball tackle is a shot where a defender enters the tackle late and targets the legs of the standing ball-carrier. The tackle can cause serious injury, with Roosters forward Siua Wong in the midst of a six-week lay-off with a knee issue caused by a cannonball tackle from North Queensland's Karl Lawton, who copped a two-game ban. On Saturday night, Klemmer went off after the shot but returned in the second half to finish the game. Walker is now free to face Cronulla on Friday night and resume a season that has been significantly hindered by knee and thumb injuries. The 23-year-old halfback looms as crucial to the Roosters cementing a spot in the top eight across the final eight rounds of the regular season.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roosters win but star half faces more time on sidelines
Sam Walker could face even more time on the sidelines after the Sydney Roosters superstar was sin-binned for an ugly shot in his comeback game, a tense 31-24 defeat of St George Illawarra. In his first game for 314 days, injury-stricken halfback Walker struck David Klemmer in a cannonball tackle, bringing the prop to the turf by entering the fray late and targeting his legs. The dangerous first-half shot put a damper on an otherwise strong return from Walker, who gave the Roosters the halftime lead with a field goal and then laid on a crucial try in the second half. Billy Smith cutting late angles 🥶 — NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2025 Sporting headgear on return from his latest concussion, Victor Radley flew in for the game-sealing try in the final three minutes by grabbing a high inside ball from James Tedesco. The Roosters will be hoping for an uninterrupted two months of Walker magic on the run to finals as they move back into the top eight with Saturday night's win at Kogarah Oval. But Walker will face suspension if he receives anything more severe than a grade-one charge, with the last man cited for a cannonball tackle, Karl Lawton, rubbed out for two games. A ban would be a tough pill to swallow for Walker after last month's broken thumb delayed his return from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in September. The two sides scored a staggering five tries between them in a frantic first 17 minutes. Walker's edge put Daniel Tupou over for two tries as the veteran feasted on Tyrell Sloan, but Saints' Sione Finau gave his own opposite man, rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase, the same treatment. But after coming back from the sin bin, Walker put the Roosters up by a point with a field goal from 12 metres out in the final minute of the first half. His beautiful flat ball to Billy Smith gave the visitors their fourth try just after the break and reminded the NRL world just what they'd missed while the skilful 23-year-old was out injured. After some good chances, including a Jacob Liddle knock-on over the line, the Dragons finally had second-half points through a lovely Kyle Flanagan short pass to Jaydn Su'A on the right. But as in last week's loss to Canberra, they had to settle for gallant defeat and are set to finish the weekend four competition points out of the top eight.
