STAR'S 'SECOND COMING' AT TIGERS
Former Junior Kiwis captain Manaia Cherrington has rejoined the Wests Tigers - effective immediately.
A talented hooker who played 16 games for the club in 2015-16, Cherrington has spent the past couple of seasons at Ipswich in the Queensland Cup.
The 28-year-old has moved back to Sydney for personal reasons and will add depth to the Tigers in the hooking spot behind Api Koroisau and Jake Simpkin.
He will start his second coming at the Tigers in the NSW Cup but is expected to put pressure on Simpkin for the back-up hooking role as the season unfolds.
https://amp.nine.com.au/article/bc0abf7a-81a1-48d0-afc8-62a65018093a
Top 8 2023
A difference in opinion over how the Sydney Roosters should attack has led to tension between the family of dumped halfback Sam Walker and the Tricolours’ coaching staff.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald that Walker’s family are privately claiming the Roosters don’t play a style of football that suits the young Queenslander’s strengths.
Walker has struggled for form in 2023, culminating in Roosters coach Trent Robinson dumping him to the NSW Cup in favour of a Joseph Manu-Luke Keary combination for this week’s Anzac Day clash against St George Illawarra.
The Walker family has privately raised concerns over the club’s game plan and the influence of halves consultant Cooper Cronk on the style of football Walker is being asked to play.
Walker’s father Ben and uncle Shane are renowned for the off-the-cuff freestyle brand of football they coach at Ipswich in the Queensland Cup. It’s the type of football Sam Walker was raised playing.
The family believes Walker is hamstrung by the attack style of the Roosters, which is influenced by Cronk.
The former Queensland and Australia No.7 is regarded as one of the best structured halfbacks in the history of the game and had a major impact on the Roosters when he joined from the Melbourne Storm in 2018.
While he is not one of Robinson’s assistants, Cronk still works with the club’s halves and attacking players. The Herald attempted to contact Cronk.
While Walker is unlikely to be publicly critical of the Roosters, those close to him voiced their concerns as far back as the pre-season.
The Roosters were made aware of the angst that has been bubbling in the background during the past couple of months.
The Herald spoke to a Roosters official, who claimed Walker had not raised an issue with the club nor with Cronk. Walker’s dropping has brought the issue to a head.
The Roosters claim they have no issue with Walker and want him to spend time in reserve grade to rediscover his form. They see him as a long-term halfback.
In Walker’s debut season, he racked up 19 try assists in 21 games. He has just two this season.
The Roosters have lost their past two games, against Melbourne and Cronulla, scoring just three tries in 160 minutes.
The Roosters, who arguably have the most potent back line in the competition, completed at an impressive 88 per cent last week but scored only two tries in their 22-12 defeat at the hands of the Sharks.
The Roosters haven’t scored a try in the second half in the past two weeks, while skipper James Tedesco is yet to cross the line for a try this year.
Robinson has moved to reinvigorate his team’s attack by dropping Walker and moving Manu to the halves.
The Roosters coach has not been afraid to make tough decisions in the past, moving on Mitchell Pearce for Cronk. He also previously dropped both Manu and Latrell Mitchell from the NRL team to help them rediscover their attacking confidence.
But Walker would be perfect for us
The Roosters did everything right last week but score enough points within the red zone.. doesn't that sound similar to what we have now with Brooks.
Getting Walker may not be the answer. Walker's parents won't let him come here anyway.
Can anyone help me understand tonight's foxsports claim that we are targeting St George Amone, or is Amone's manager (who is also Schuster's manager) saying that the tigers are interested in Schuster?
Robinson has a good track record of dropping players for their benefit. It is a difficult thing to manage as some players have a negative reaction, but roosters seem to manage it well. Latrell and manu were both dropped early in their careers there, and that’s just two off the top of my head. Flanagan was also dropped but that didn’t quite go to plan (or maybe it did for the roosters at least).
My point is walker being dropped for a week or two doesn’t necessarily mean he is out the door, its development. Too bad we couldn’t do the same for AD or brooks.
@skippa13 Walker dropped and halves of 7. Keary 6 Manu fire then walker won't be getting back in the team unless origin hits and they play suali or manu goes to fb to replace teddy. I think Walker might end up the same as Flannagan moved on or he asks for a release if he is stuck in reggies
@tigertownsfs I'd back Robinson's and cronks judgement of who they want in the halves over Ben and Shane walkers.
Walker has that many star players in that backline Teddy manu keary suali tupou and still can't get it done.
Pass on Walker
@tigertownsfs I'd back Robinson's and cronks judgement of who they want in the halves over Ben and Shane walkers.
Walker has that many star players in that backline Teddy manu keary suali tupou and still can't get it done.
Pass on Walker
I don’t think Keary/Walker works as a partnership and I expect Manu will do well and they will thump the Dragons. If it weren’t for Keary’s concussion issues I’d expect there could be a decent chance Walker would be moved on because their 6/7/9/13 combination overall seems unbalanced.
Used to enjoy the yearly stories about Craigie 'training the house down' over the summer, and coming into the season 'in the best shape of his career'. Like clockwork.
Of course, nothing ever changed.
But Walker would be perfect for us
The Roosters did everything right last week but score enough points within the red zone.. doesn't that sound similar to what we have now with Brooks.
Getting Walker may not be the answer. Walker's parents won't let him come here anyway.
Can anyone help me understand tonight's foxsports claim that we are targeting St George Amone, or is Amone's manager (who is also Schuster's manager) saying that the tigers are interested in Schuster?
Isn't it interesting, even after only a few losses and some average form, the media starts to turn on you. Walker can't simply be dropped because he's not playing well, there has to be more to it, they are making out like Roosters can't or won't use a style that suits him, and make these vague references to what his family thinks. Oh and Tedesco hasn't scored yet and they've had all this ball but no points.
@jirskyr That's a big club for you buddy. I think the media have a bit to do with it.
Rarely do you hear or read that a rooster player is peeved off with the sombreros. They seem to keep a lot of stuff in house and Robbo doesn't feed the media with too much bait.
He's a good young man Walker. Isn't it refreshing to see a clean cut fellow that appears to be well presented. A good role model.
I'm not saying we show no interest him, I just think atm we would ruin his career somewhat but at a bargain price we would be silly not to offer him a contract.
Btw, what are you doing up late mate, are U a shift worker?
Used to enjoy the yearly stories about Craigie 'training the house down' over the summer, and coming into the season 'in the best shape of his career'. Like clockwork.
Of course, nothing ever changed.
I always like watching a fat guy with skill. Probably not allowed to say that anymore but oh well.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Used to enjoy the yearly stories about Craigie 'training the house down' over the summer, and coming into the season 'in the best shape of his career'. Like clockwork.
Of course, nothing ever changed.
I always like watching a fat guy with skill. Probably not allowed to say that anymore but oh well.
I thought you were talking about me until the skill part.
Sometimes political correctness goes overboard, no names and no intention to insult someone should be ok.I always like watching a fat guy with skill. Probably not allowed to say that anymore but oh well.
All my life I've been called a tall piece of pelican sh** but when your a very good looking and intelligent fella its not an issue. I wonder how that feels 😁
