Queensland: Walker sets sights on maroon

[Queenslander]

Walker sets sights on maroon
By Daniel Pace
February 13, 2006

QUEENSLAND selectors are leaving the door open for Chris Walker to make amends for past indiscretions and play Origin for the Maroons again.

Walker is reportedly training the house down under coach Craig Bellamy at his new NRL club Melbourne in a bid to start the season in first grade before hopefully adding to his six Origin caps earned between 2001 and 2003.

Maroons chairman of selectors Des Morris said Walker's troubled past would not count against him when the Queensland side was chosen for Origin I in Sydney on May 24.

Walker was sacked from the Maroons squad in 2004 when he was arrested in Brisbane following an incident during a boozy bonding session.

"It's not our job to judge him on past misdemeanours off the field - that's an issue for his club coach to address," said Morris.

"He certainly has not been marked `never to tour again' and isn't out of the frame for Origin selection.

"Form in the early stages of the NRL season will be the biggest determining factor."

Walker wasn't named in Queensland's 26-man preliminary squad which will assemble in Brisbane on March 1 for a two-day camp but incumbents Chris Flannery, Tonie Carroll and Brad Thorn were among notable omissions.

The Maroons aren't exactly blessed with a production line of quality specialist wingers, especially following the retirement of Matt Sing from representative football.

Walker, 25, languished in Premier League for most of the 2005 season, playing just eight games in first grade for the Sydney Roosters.

"That's the main goal (Origin) and it's why I've been training so hard in the off-season," said Walker, who played solidly in Melbourne's 38-18 win over Parramatta in a trial on Saturday night in Ballina.

"My first goal though is to cement a spot in the Storm's first grade team."

His main rivals for a Storm wing berth are incumbents Matt Geyer and Jake Webster, with Steve Turner also in contention.

Walker bristles at mention of the words "starting afresh" when it comes to his shift to Melbourne, pointing out that dozens of players change clubs every year.

"Every interview I seem to do is always about starting afresh or starting this or that," he said.

"It's just a new club. People jump clubs every year.

"I've signed with a new club and I'm just like (former Sydney Roosters pair) Michael Crocker and James Aubusson."

Maybe a comparison to Crocker is more appropriate than to young halfback Aubusson.

Both Walker and Crocker have landed in trouble with the law, have a reputation for being hotheads and were forced to look for a new club after being squeezed out of the Roosters.

Bellamy offered the pair a lifeline in Melbourne, where they can go about their business away from the glaring spotlight of the Sydney media.

"They can still find a story if they want to," said a wary Walker.

"The media pressure really didn't bother (in Sydney). It was the pressure I put on myself that bothered me."

AAP

[Super Cronk]

He should be good back up for when slater or inglis plays SOO.

[qld power]

hopefully he can regain that form that he had with the broncos and can away from trouble off the field

[DIEHARD]

Walker used to be my favourite player a few years back.

I think he will return to form this year.

[RIP]

He should b back this year at top of his peak

[Eel 33]

I think he needs to refocus on getting a first grade spot before he starts to think about SOO.

[TITANS007]

I think he needs to refocus on getting a first grade spot before he starts to think about SOO.

Good call. He really needs to improve his defense because that certainly isn't SOO standard. We all know he is a speedster, but that's not enough.

[DeeGan]

As per the above two posts - "you have to crawl before you walk" Chris.

Chris Walker has one thing you can't coach, speed. This will always be a positive when discuss him as a member of any team. Speed alone will not get you a maroon jersey, speed alone will not get him in to the Storm starting line-up.

Melbourne have the hottest backline in the NRL when looking at try scoring potential, only injury or severe lack of form will see Walker starting. S.O.O. time (as cronk said) will allow him some game time.

[TITAN PETE]

He needs to lose that atitude that both he & Hodges had a couple of years back , you only have to see the change in Hodges when he started playing footy instead of worrying about trying to piss his oposite number off all the time , he was probably the Broncos best back last year so if Walker can concentrate on playing the game instead of trying to get his melon on TV for all the wrong reasons he will regain a bit of respect from oposing teams.

[Dakink]

Dont know but watchjing Walker on the weekend in Ballina he seemed to display a better attitude than before. He placed a lot more effort into his play and seemed more 'humble'

[Eel 33]

"Humble" is not a word is not a word i associate with Chris Walker, but ill take your word for it Dakink.

[DeeGan]

Dont know but watchjing Walker on the weekend in Ballina he seemed to display a better attitude than before. He placed a lot more effort into his play and seemed more 'humble'

Great news - he has all the talent in the world if he can get his head right. The Melbourne move will be a positive one for him as he is out of the spotlight. I want Chris Walker to succeed and return to Bronco form, though he faces an uphill battle to surplant one of the Storm guys ahead of him.

Where did he line-up for Melbourne Dakink? Was he moving between wing/centre or primarily stuck on the wing?

[Dakink]

Nope stayed on the wing - looked for work though and was willing to dig in and defend too. I dont know it was more of a feel watching him warm up and play. Seemed more ready to accept he isnt gods gift and work to get back where he was.