The Chris Walker contract thread

[eelectrica]

I wish Walker all the best.
He really hasn't been on the field enough for the Titans to up his contract though. He seems to spend more time on the sideline than the playing field.

[DIEHARD]

I wish him good luck, he will always be one of my favourite players.

We have been very fortunate with the calibre of our youth coming through. They may be young, but to me they seem like old heads on young bodies. Gordon especially. He seems to be able to absorb the rough stuff and the pressure.

[teke]

There are a million stories about Clubs being disloyal to contracted players but Chris you are not one of them.

[DIEHARD]

Walker deal's a goer, no Bull

Former Titans winger Chris Walker's deal with English Super League side Bradford for 2010 is firm although there has been no official announcement by the club

THE manager of former Titans winger Chris Walker is adamant his client is still England-bound despite the Bradford Bulls filling their overseas player quota by signing Manly halfback Matt Orford.

Bradford were believed to have agreed to terms with Walker for 2010 but there has been no official announcement by the club.

The mystery was compounded further yesterday, with Orford snapping up what is believed to be the last place in the overseas cap by signing a deal worth $1.5 million over three seasons.

But Walker's manager Chris Orr said he last spoke to the club on Friday and was assured the contracts of both Walker and another of his clients, former Sharks fullback Brett Kearney, were secure.

The Bulls have trumpeted the signatures of Kearney and Manly duo Heath L'Estrange and Glenn Hall, and followed the progress of their visa applications closely on their website.

But there has been no mention of Walker.

Walker, who married partner Courtney in Byron Bay last weekend, could not be reached yesterday.

Orr said Walker's visa application remained on track and he was due to leave in a 'couple weeks'.

Hall, Kearney and L'Estrange have already been cleared by the UK Border Agency to take up their contracts with the Bulls.

Round 1 of the Super League competition starts on February 6.


The UK Border Agency last year tightened their criteria for visa applications and a number of high-profile NRL players were denied entry.

Greg Bird was stopped from linking with Bradford as he was awaiting trial on criminal charges when he made his application, while a driving ban stopped Todd Carney joining Huddersfield and Hull were denied the chance to recruit Maroons backrower Michael Crocker.

Kiwis international Greg Eastwood has only been given permission to join Leeds Rhinos this season after the move was initially stopped because of speeding offences.

Orford's departure leaves the Sea Eagles' halves ranks looking thin for 2010 but the club insists their talented youngsters, Kiwi international Kieran Foran, 19, and Queensland Cup player of the year Trent Hodkinson, 21, are ready to step up.

Orford, 31, had been mulling over a two-year contract extension with the Sea Eagles but opted to take the opportunity to fill a long-held ambition to play in England.

PARRAMATTA'S Timana Tahu has been ruled out of a rugby league comeback in the highly anticipated All Stars clash on the Gold Coast due to a previous judiciary charge.

The dual international was likely to be included in the Indigenous All Stars team named in Brisbane on Friday selected by an online fan poll.

But a review of judiciary records has confirmed that Tahu has yet to serve a two-match suspension imposed in his final game for the Eels during the 2007 NRL finals series before defecting to rugby union.

Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Walker to block Orford's Bradford move

Matt Orford's move to Bradford could be in doubt after former Gold Coast winger Chris Walker revealed he is taking action against the English Super League club signing the Manly captain.

Orford, who announced last week he is leaving Manly to take up a lucrative contract in the UK, could be forced to stay in Australia after it emerged Bradford decided against signing Walker so they could secure the services of the 2008 Dally M Medal winner.

Prior to Orford becoming available, Bradford had already filled their quota of five overseas players and Walker could be left in limbo after rejecting a new contract from the Titans to sign with Bradford in August.

The former Sydney Roosters and Queensland star's manager Chris Orr said he will be asking lawyers to lobby the English Rugby League to block Orford's move.

"We will be looking at all options and the players association will be looking at all options and until Chris Walker's situation is resolved I can't see how they can sign Matt Orford," Orr told the Ten Network.

"It sets a terrible precedence if clubs can stockpile contracts sat on their desk and pick and choose who they want to activate.

"There has got to be a duty of care."

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

PLEASE WALKER SCREW BRADFORD!!!For the love of sylve please come back to the gold coast and sign something

[patskE]

i cant see walker playing in our back line but, unless their is a few injury's aye
wish him the best
but i think its his time to play a few years on the super league aye

[Supergoose]

I'm happy for walker to screw Bradford but im more pleased that he is screwing over that mercenary orford.

[patskE]

^^^^ ahaha
how would the fan's feel?
his only playing with manly cause the offer didnt go through...

[mikeyba]

hey folks..

anyone have an update on walks situation.. love to see him back in the centres for us...

[TITAN PETE]

hey folks..

anyone have an update on walks situation.. love to see him back in the centres for us...

He's been paid some Hush Money from Bradford & has signed with Catalan Dragons for 2 years

[DIEHARD]

Love to see him at Les Cats. Also great if he comes out on top financially, because he seems to have had enough bad luck lately.

Hope to hear some official news soon.

[DIEHARD]

Chris Walker agrees with the Dragons

The Catalans Dragons come to formalize a final transfer with the signing of this morning Australian Chris Walker for the next two seasons. Aged 29 years, this versatile player to 1m81 for 92 kg that can move the center to the wing or back was considered one of the fastest players in NRL. Capped six times with Queensland, he has done all States Of Origin between 2001 and 2002, scoring in each of three games in 2001. Former player of the NRL club Gold Coast Titans, he has also evolved under the colors of the Brisbane Broncos, the Melbourne Storm, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters. Best Scorer of the Broncos in 2002, he scored 75 in his Test career in 138 games of NRL.

"This is good news for the club. It will bring the speed in the line of ?, which has sometimes been lacking. It is a terrific finisher, which I think will be quickly adopted by the Catalan public. With the arrival of this new player, there will be a tough competition behind which can be positive for the team. "Said Sebastian Munoz, manager

http://www.catalansdragons.com/fr/news14122009.php

[hugebrianfan]

wow i hope all goes well for him over there.. Good luck mate!

[squirrell]

well done chris mate...now ill have to follow them as well as the titans..