Chris Walker - Walker's on!

[squirrell]

WALKERS ON!!! Finally the maestro rtns,im hoping he does play cos guaranteed whatever the result he WILL score...remember this post kids!!

[DIEHARD]

I just realised that it is on the front page of the courier mail sport.

[Steve]

I'm hoping he does play. I might have to adjust my vrl teams, just incase!

[BringBackWillie]

.... so! How did he go????

[squirrell]

ok,i was wrong,AGAIN.But i watched his running off the ball and he was always available and looks sharp so maybe next week?!.

[DIEHARD]

Walker's return raises cheers from terraces

IN just 80 minutes of football this season Chris Walker had managed to create more headlines than most of his Titans teammates.

Last night at Gold Coast Stadium though he was creating a stir for all the right reasons after making his return to the field.

It's been a long road back for the 27-year-old, who has had to battle his way back from two injuries and an in-house suspension for a drunken incident in April.

Finally though the planets aligned and Walker was given the chance to don a Titans jersey for only the second time this season.

It was in an inglorious return off the bench in a match where the Titans were comprehensively outclassed by a Bulldogs side gathering momentum at the right time of the year, as they always seem to do.

But it was at least a step in the right direction for the reformed star, whose ability to light up a match has never been in question.

Walker has his critics, just as he has his fans. But despite all the hoopla which has followed the speed machine wherever he has gone over the years, it was made abundantly clear last night that more people want to see him on the field that not.

Minutes before the match, a rousing cheer was made by the crowd of 15,873 when his name was announced over the loudspeaker, confirming he would finally make his return.

The same response greeted him when he was given the nod to enter the game at left centre in the 26th minute.

It was never going to be an easy night, Walker entering the fray off the bench with the Titans already on the back foot at 12-nil down.

Within a minute of him taking the field, the Titans again found themselves standing behind the try line as Bulldogs kicker Hazem El Masri prepared to convert his third sideline conversion of the night for an 18-point advantage.

That set the tone for Walker's return.

He was moved from centre to fullback in the second half but always found attacking opportunities hard to come by.

But at least now the comeback is done and dusted.

The 'when is he going to be back' whispers which have floated around the Gold Coast all season will finally stop and Walker can now focus on salvaging what remains of 2007.

Importantly too, his return couldn't have been more timely for the Gold Coast as a host of injuries to star players have thrown the Titans' finals ambitions into disarray.

A month ago, the Titans were sitting pretty in the top eight and needing just a handful of wins from their remaining 10 matches.

But with no Scott Prince, Anthony Laffranchi and Mat Rogers, the Titans need the likes of Walker to find form -- and fast.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au