Roosters coach Trent Robinson says there’s no chance Sam Walker can renegotiate a contract extension after talks broke down during the week and the club decided to pull their deal.
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But the Roosters coach dismissed suggestions Walker could leave immediately and not play out the final year of his current deal in 2027.
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Speaking before the World Cup game between England and PNG, Robinson was pressed live on TV by Matt White and journalist Dave Riccio about the Walker fallout.
He was asked if Roosters chairman Nick Politis may backflip on his decision not to offer Walker a deal for 2028 and beyond.
“No, I mean Nick made that pretty clear. We were pretty clear in those negotiations. We knew what we wanted,” Robinson said.
“Sam did want more time, but don’t forget we started negotiations in the middle of the year, they pushed it back to after the season.
“He’s contracted next year, he’s at the Roosters, he’s just not there from 2028 onwards.
“Sammy’s a Rooster until the end of 2027, and then he’s off from 2028, and that’s his decision.”
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Robinson defended Walker, saying he was well within his rights to reject the Roosters offer of $1.2 million a season, which he felt was a little low.
“You think it’s going to go one way and it doesn’t,” Robinson said.
“We wanted to sign Sam and we couldn’t get it done, and that’s the business side of it, and then probably from Tuesday onwards it’s been a bit frustrating around the commentary around Sam and the way his character is and what he should have done.
“No-one’s on a lifelong contract.
“You have managers for a reason, and there was constant communication there, and we couldn’t get it done, so that’s pretty normal.
Robinson revealed that he and Walker “don’t talk about contracts”.
“We never have, it’s never been a part of our discussion. We talk about footy,” he said.