Sam Walker has reportedly reached out to both Trent Robinson and Nick Politis, breaking his silence after the Roosters’ bombshell contract decision.
The Tricolours released a statement on Monday night, revealing they had withdrawn their extension offer tabled to Walker worth a reported $1.2 million per-year across three seasons with ratchet clauses.
The decision came after Walker and his management mulled over the contract, before requesting a slight upgrade which left club supremo Politis furious, leading him to pull the deal.
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During Wednesday’s special edition of NRL360, reporter Phil Rothfield revealed Walker was yet to call his coach, saying: “I find that almost insulting”.
However, according to Code Sports, Walker picked up the phone and called both Robinson and Politis on Wednesday night to apologise for his part in the contract breakdown.
From Kangaroos camp in Townsville, the 24-year-old reportedly thanked both figures for their influence on his career so far while also hoping to spark peace talks between the parties.
“I just wanted a bit more time (to make a decision),” Walker told the pair according to News Corp.
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However, the phone conversations reportedly did not mention contract talks restarting, with Politis reportedly unlikely to withdraw his stance.
Instead, the Roosters are reportedly planning to deploy a new halves pairing in 2027, with Walker’s time at the heavyweight club likely coming to an end.
The Queensland and Kangaroos halfback reportedly has a desire to line-up against Wakefield Trinity in next year’s World Club Challenge clash.
Regardless, Hugo Savala and Toby Rodwell — another highly-rated young playmaker developed within the Roosters system — will likely forge a new halves combination next year.
Daly Cherry-Evans, the former halves partner of Walker was asked about the break down in contract negotiations on Thursday morning.
“Look, we love to dramatise things in sport,” Cherry-Evans said on The Today Show.
“I don’t see these things as any different from people that are just negotiating their terms of work.
“But with sport, we seem to have different standards around it, and emotion is attached to it a lot more.
“At the end of the day, he’s just doing a business negotiation. I’m sure at the end of the day it will all be fine.”
While he doesn’t have an issue in the collapsed negotiations, he was unhappy with the commotion it has caused.
“I’m pretty firm on this,” Cherry-Evans added.
“I get sport; it’s so emotional to us, and that’s what makes it so special.
“But at the end of the day, the club and Sam are doing what is best for themselves, and that’s all it is, really.”
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If Walker is unable to find a club that will accommodate an immediate switch for 2027, the premiership-winning playmaker could start his season in NSW Cup.
Roosters powerbrokers also reportedly discussed their stance on Walker’s immediate future with Robinson, who reportedly agreed the team will move on next season.
Despite his hard stance, Politis was reportedly ‘about in tears’ when making the final call on Walker’s contract, having wanted the gun halfback to be a one-club player.