Story summary
Sam Walker, the 24-year-old halfback for the Sydney Roosters who helped secure their maiden NRL title last Sunday with a one-point win over Newcastle in the grand final, hopes to finalize a new contract with his club before November 1. Talks were paused back in August due to disagreements over salary demands; Walker’s camp reportedly sought nearly $1.7 million per season for four years starting from 2028, while the Roosters offered just under $1 million less annually. Despite this gap, both sides remain optimistic about reaching an agreement. Walker expressed his desire to stay in Sydney's eastern suburbs with the Roosters, and chairman Nick Politis is confident they can retain him. The player intends to focus on the upcoming World Cup before resuming negotiations.
Written for “NRL Contract Negotiations” on 2026-10-10,
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Freshly minted as a premiership-winning halfback and a member of the Australian World Cup squad, Sam Walker says he hopes to thrash out a new deal with the Sydney Roosters in the three weeks before the November 1 free agency period begins.
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period → mint → weeks
The Roosters No.7 placed contract negotiations on hold in August amid reports his camp were seeking close to $1.7 million a season over four years from 2028.
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camp → place → 2028
But with the Roosters having sealed a maiden NRL title with last Sunday’s one-point win over Newcastle in the grand final, Walker’s management will resume talks with the club while he competes for a World Cup crown with Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos.
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he → seal → Kangaroos
Lured to the Roosters from Queensland at the age of 16, the now 24-year-old has made clear that his preference is to remain in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
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is → lure → suburbs
Roosters chairman Nick Politis is also confident of keeping him.
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Politis → keep → him
The only thing left to agree on is the terms, although with a gulf of $1 million between the player’s asking price and the team’s four-year offer when they last sat down, there is some distance between the parties to be bridged.
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they → leave → parties
“It’s obviously such a special club and Nick is the best at what he does,” Walker said at the World Cup launch on Saturday.
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Walker → ’ → Saturday
“He’s done an amazing job with me as well.
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He → do → me
I’m so grateful for everything that he’s done for me.
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he → ’m → me
Fingers crossed, over the next little period we’ll be able to get something done.
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something → cross → period
“For now, I’m focused on getting myself right and we’ve got to prepare for a game on Thursday [against New Zealand], so it’s probably not the time right now to be thinking about it.
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it → ’m → it
But I’m sure that time will come in the next couple of weeks.”
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time → ’m → weeks
Walker made his State of Origin debut this year as well as collecting a premiership ring and would be in hot demand if he tested out the open market from next month.
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he → make → month
The tax-free offerings of the PNG Chiefs, who are still to sign a halfback, would supercharge his earnings if he ended up there, but he said his intention was to not be available by the time the new team and any other is permitted to approach him in November.
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team → sign → November
“That’s the plan, to get that all done then [before November 1],” he said.
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he → ’ → November
“The plan is definitely to stay.
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plan → stay → ?
I’m fortunate enough to have a really good managing team that will look after that for me, and I’m sure Nick and them will be able to get something going and do the work in the background while I can focus on my football.”
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I → ’m → football
Walker joined Walters’ squad in Sydney after a heady week in which he celebrated grand final glory, attended the Roosters presentation night and then flew to Airlie Beach in Queensland and back for his brother-in-law’s wedding.
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he → join → wedding
With Cameron Munster, Mitchell Moses and Tom Dearden also in contention for spots in the Australian halves, it is yet to emerge what role Walker will play for the national team during the tournament.
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Walker → emerge → tournament
But ahead of a blockbuster opening pool game against the Kiwis at Allianz Stadium, he is just lapping it all up.
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he → lap → it
“It’s been a full-on week, obviously,” Walker said.
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Walker → say → ?
“Celebrating winning the grand final with the boys was something pretty special and to achieve a lifelong dream was unbelievable
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achieve → celebrate → dream
“Then the next day to get a call-up to represent your country as well was just the cherry on top.
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Then → get → top
I’m really looking forward to getting into camp and getting to know a lot of players that I’ve looked up to and played against for such a long time, and try and learn as much as I can of them.
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I → look → them
In the end, hopefully I make Australia proud as well.
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Australia → make → end
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