Broncos’ remarkable NRL first

He’s the rookie half who has taken the NRL by storm, but Sam Walker’s meteoric rise hit its first stumbling block in stunning style as his former side the Broncos bashed him into submission as they ran away with a shock win at the SCG.

Walker has enjoyed the time and space usually reserved for the game’s greats, but he had milliseconds to react on Saturday as Brisbane sent their big boppers at him in attack and defence, proving he is in fact human and still just a young man learning his craft.

The teenager has racked up a whopping 13 try assists this season, but the challenge of weekly footy against men twice his size is starting to take its toll, prompting questions over whether he should be given a rest to recharge the batteries.

“I thought about it a couple of weeks ago, but we’ve got a bye in a week and that’ll be a good opportunity for him to rest up,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

“You want to get that balance between being uncomfortable and learning that there’s a lot that goes with the NRL, and also to make sure you look after a young guy coming through as well.”

The Broncos pack brought Walker back to earth. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Walker had just two runs and missed four tackles on Saturday as Tevita Pangai Junior made it his mission to ruffle the young Chook’s feathers.

The usually unflappable playmaker was rushed at every turn, leading to two stray passes that were intercepted for Broncos tries.

Pangai ran over him for the first try of the evening and then harassed him late in the game to force an errant pass that led to a runaway try to David Mead.

The Roosters have used bodyguards to protect him in defence, but Robinson knows teams will still look for a way to target his lightweight half in the future.

“I think we’ve had two teams that have moved their back-rowers over to that side to target him, and that’s normal,” he said.

“If we handle it really well then that means they’re going to have to change game plans to target him, so that’s a benefit to us. But when you don’t handle it well, it ends up being a negative for you.

“The opportunity is there for us to control the opposition game if they do that, but in doing that, we have to defend well and Sam has to do that.”

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