Sam Walker appears on the brink of an acrimonious early exit from the Sydney Roosters after the NRL club pulled a multimillion-dollar contract offer.
The 24-year-old has been open about seeking an extension beyond 2027 but negotiations broke down when the Roosters baulked at the number put forward by the Walker camp.
And there appears to be no coming back from the Roosters’ perspective following a statement issued late on Monday night.
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“The Sydney Roosters have this evening advised the management of Sam Walker that the club’s offer for a contract extension beyond the 2027 season has been withdrawn after the parties were unable to reach an agreement on terms,” the statement said.
“The club remains focused on maintaining a premiership-winning roster, with all recruitment and retention decisions made to support the strength, balance and long-term success of the playing squad.”
Walker’s manager Clinton Schifcofske accepted both parties are “within their rights to say no”.
There is now every possibility the premiership-winning halfback finds a new home for next year.
Schifcofske remains adamant Walker can pull on the Tricolours jersey in 2027, if not well into the future.
But even he acknowledged his client may feel otherwise.
“You can always come back to the table, but I can’t speak for Sam,” Schifcofske told News Corp.
“We’ve had chats and discussions back and forth.
“Both sides haven’t been able to agree to terms and that happens.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson had been hopeful of good news when speaking just hours before the club’s statement.
He suggested the situation had only dragged on because Walker had been busy with Rugby League World Cup commitments.
“These things aren’t difficult. They’re difficult because someone’s about to make their debut for Australia,” Robinson said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters: Rugby League.
“I’d say we’ll have an answer in the next few hours about what’s going to happen, pretty simply. Because they’re not difficult. You’re not fighting over lots of little things.
“Sam just had to sit down with his management today and then I’d say there’ll be a phone call tonight. It’s not difficult, it just needed time for them to sit down.
“I will (find out tonight) — I’m not sure if you (the media and the public) will.”
Instead the Roosters issued their statement within hours and now a childhood fan turned premiership halfback is almost out the door.
The Queensland State of Origin and Kangaroos representative has famous ties to the Broncos through dad Ben and uncles Chris and Shane, as well as his own stint in their academy.
But Brisbane appear set to move forward with their plan of pairing incoming halfback Jonah Pezet alongside five-eighth Ezra Mam following captain Adam Reynolds’ retirement.
Expansion clubs Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs are both possible landing spots given the money on offer, with the former in need of a splashy signing for their 2027 debut.
But the Chiefs are still hunting a halfback to pair with Jarome Luai.
Their hopes may now rest on whether Roosters’ relationship with Walker can survive a lame-duck year, albeit one where they will be top contenders for another premiership.
Walker overcame an ankle injury to return for the Tricolours in their run to the grand final win over Newcastle earlier this month.
He backed it up with a debut for the Kangaroos against Fiji last weekend and is in a strong position to hold the No.7 jumper for the semi-final in the wake of Mitchell Moses’s tournament-ending calf injury.
