Titans: Chris walks tall

[Queenslander]

Chris walks tall

Karl Dekroo
February 14, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

KEEPING a low profile was never something Chris Walker could be accused of in the past.

But as he battles to win a contract with the Gold Coast Titans, potentially his fifth NRL club, the 26-year-old looks to have learned from the mistakes of his past.



After months of shunning the spotlight, the former Queensland Origin flyer emerged from his self-imposed media ban on the Gold Coast yesterday, but only briefly.

Walker joined Titans co-captain Luke Bailey to visit Gold Coast Hospital and present 17-year-old fan Scott Painter with a signed jersey.

Painter recently underwent surgery to remove a growth on his brain. The growth was found to be benign, but Painter suffered three minor post-surgery strokes, his lungs collapsed and he is forced to breath through a tube in his neck.

"It certainly puts things in perspective," Walker said.

"I've had a few ups and downs over the years but Scott has been in hospital for 65 days now and he's doing it really tough. To see the enjoyment he got out of us coming to see him today was great. When he gets out of hospital we're definitely going to get him along to a few games."

Walker will line up for the Titans against Melbourne, the club he walked out on mid-season last year, in a trial match in Coffs Harbour on Saturday night.

A strong performance should see him secure a place on the Titans' full-time roster.

Walker was not keen to discuss the game yesterday, or the season ahead.

In the past, he has fallen into the trap of talking big at the start of the year, only to then lose his way and not reach his goals.

This time looks different.

By all reports he has been a model citizen on the coast. He is off the drink, back living with his family, and has a new love interest after his very public split with actress Kate Ritchie.

Saturday night's game is shaping as one of the most hostile trial matches in years with the war of words between the Titans and Storm continuing yesterday.

Claims by Titans managing director that winger Steve Turner could be in for "a bit of treatment" after turning his back on the club were met with anger by Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

"They can go as hard as they like," Bellamy said.

"If that's the way they want to go, so be it. It won't help their football."

The Courier Mail

[Steve Dangerous]

always good to see the guys doing community stuff.

and good luck to scott. what bad luck... the tumor turns out to be harmless, but then you have the strokes. poor guy.