Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="1910, post: 3040422, member: 8272"] It is not often that a 16-year-old footy player gets to sit down with a premiership-winning coach and a Clive Churchill Medal winner to talk about rugby league. But it is what Queensland Under 18 halfback Sam Walker got out of that experience that says as much about his character as it does about his prodigious ability. Walker, currently signed to the Brisbane Broncos, is being chased by a dozen NRL clubs and has already found himself the subject of back page story in The Daily Telegraph as a possible long term replacement for Cooper Cronk. The Sydney Roosters are one of the clubs interested in Walker and earlier this year he sat down for breakfast in a Coogee café with coach Trent Robinson and five-eighth Luke Keary to talk footy, a day after touring the Roosters facility with his parents Ben and Kylie. When asked what he got out of the experience, Walker didn’t talk about contracts or his future. He spoke about his constant goal - to be a better player and person. "It was really good to sit down and learn. Trent Robinson is the first head (NRL) coach to speak to me about the way I play and I picked up little tips," Sam said. "Trent is the best coach in the NRL at the moment and it is good to hear from the best. I’ve only ever had my dad and uncle (Shane) correct my game and encourage me how to play, so it was really good to hear his thoughts on how I can become a better player, because I am always learning at the moment. "I am turning 17 very soon and I know I need to get better and improve. "I spoke to Luke Keary about how he works with players and gets the best out of them. They have got a really strong team and culture at the Roosters and I picked up on that." Walker, who was a standout for the Ipswich Jets in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup this year, and will line up for the Queensland Under 18 side against NSW on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium, has been absorbed in rugby league since he was an infant. [IMG alt="'What a weapon!' - Sam Walker"]https://www.qrl.com.au/remote.axd?https://flex.nrl.ooflex.net/keyframedownloadcontroller?id=271021?center=0.5%2C0.5&preset=video-player-1224x688[/IMG] 'What a weapon!' - Sam Walker > 'What a weapon!' - Sam Walker His father Ben Walker and uncle Shane Walker, both former NRL stars themselves, have been coaching the Jets since 2011 and Sam has been a regular presence at training, where he has absorbed the philosophy of "Jets footy" almost by osmosis. Ben knows his son will soon have a big decision to make, but the club he plays with in future will be determined by the quality of the coach. Ben said the Roosters experience was extremely worthwhile. "I think it was good for him. The Broncos had played the Roosters the night before so Keary was talking to Sam about what he did against the Broncos," Ben said. "Sam was able to say 'I saw you do this against the Broncos' and 'why did you do that?' and Keary was able to explain why. Keary was very open and articulate with what his thoughts were during the game. "Trent was talking about the same sort of stuff. We had spent the day before at the Roosters and they showed us around and explained what they were going to do and what they could offer. The club is really impressive." Walker’s play has also been impressive, to say the least. [IMG alt="Sam Walker in action for the Ipswich Jets. Photo: QRL Media"]https://www.qrl.com.au/contentassets/acad4cb7691f471196c3947fe8d18960/samuel-walker-03.jpg?center=0.3%2C0.5&preset=photo-inline[/IMG] Sam Walker in action for the Ipswich Jets. Photo: QRL Media Those who have seen clips him play will often say "how did he do that?" The teenager has all the skills and others that don’t exist. Wrack your brain and try and think of a football he reminds you of and the only one you can think of is…Sam Walker. He is his own man, but it is no surprise Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston is the player that he looks up to. "That is because he always wanted his hands on the ball, which is the way I play," Sam said. "If his team needed points he would create an opportunity, so as I grew up I would pick up little tips off him." The creativity of Walker’s play is a testament to the environment he has grown up in. "It has been awesome. It is pretty rare to be in my position... since I started playing footy, my dad has always been coaching at a high level with the Ipswich Jets," Sam said. "I’ve grown up with my uncles (Shane and Chris), father and grandfather (Garry), who played at a high level for so many years, and I’ve always been getting tips and ideas off them about how to improve my game. "My dad has always encouraged me and steered me in the right direction which is why I play the style of footy I do today. "I love getting my hands on the ball and if there is space, attack the space. "I don’t like sitting back and waiting for an opportunity. I’ll try and create an opportunity myself and create points. You’ve got to be able to be on both sides of the field and be creative. If there is an opportunity and you let it go by there might not be another one for half an hour or an hour, or even again in a game. "The higher level footy I play the harder the opportunities are so you have to take every opportunity I get." Walker has handled the hype around him with a cool head and with a focus beyond his years. [IMG alt="Sam Walker, for the Queensland Under 18 side, during opposed session with the Maroons. Photo: QRL Media"]https://www.qrl.com.au/contentassets/acad4cb7691f471196c3947fe8d18960/walkers-190531703-sd.jpg?center=0.3%2C0.5&preset=photo-inline[/IMG] Sam Walker, for the Queensland Under 18 side, during opposed session with the Maroons. Photo: QRL Media "I have had a few clubs interested, but at the moment I am trying to focus on my schoolwork and get the best OP and grades I can because I want to go to university and hopefully study something in the business area," Sam said. "Nothing really happens unless I am playing good footy. "Now that season has finished with the Jets I am looking forward to playing First XV rugby hopefully with Ipswich Grammar this year. That is a goal. "I am trying to set my goals as I go along. Firstly I want to play really well for the Queensland Under 18s and represent my state well. I am not looking too far ahead." Walker is in the elite development squad at the Broncos and said he was learning plenty on and off the field at the club. "We have a welfare officer at the Broncos that is really supportive and looks after you in that respect," Sam said. "There is also the strength and conditioning, speed work and physio if ever I need it so all that is helping me improve and make my football become better. "My goal for me this year is to enjoy my footy as much as I can. It will probably be my last with my mates at school and in my club." [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/06/01/how-brekkie-with-robinson-and-keary-inspired-sam-walker/[/URL] [automerge]1559339047[/automerge] Just a few years ago David Fifita and Tesi Niu were playing backyard footy together, now one is making his State of Origin debut and the other is following closely in his footsteps. When Fifita was named to make his Origin debut for the Queensland Maroons, one of the first congratulatory texts came from his younger cousin Fanitesi (Tesi) Niu, who himself was preparing to wear the maroon jersey for the Queensland Under 18 team. "I saw it straight away on Instagram that he had made the Origin squad," Niu said. "I texted him and he texted me back." The sentiment of the text message exchange? Love and gratitude. "I was proud of him. Growing up together, there wasn't a lot to do, we struggled a bit, and it's so good to see him make it," Niu said. "A bit of brother love through text." As kids, they were always playing rugby league - with whoever wanted to join in, and wherever they could find a blade of grass. "It's the game I love," Niu said simply. "David Fifita, he's my first cousin - we would just play footy against each other. Just me and him. "Growing up, I would play everywhere, anywhere - the park, the backyard, out the front of the house. Anywhere. I just loved playing." [SIZE=22px][B]From the backyard to the representative ranks[/B][/SIZE] It was just 12 months ago the pair were part of the Queensland Under 18 team that suffered a narrow 16-10 loss to New South Wales at the MCG. Niu, who turns 18 in August, was one of the youngest boys in the squad last year and is relishing taking on a more senior role in camp this year. "All the older boys looked after me last year, because I was one of the youngest along with two other boys Xavier (Coates) and Jake (Simpkin) - I was 16 at the time," Niu said. "Dave (Fifita) and Tino (Fa'Asuamaleaui) really took me under their wing and looked after me the whole camp. "It was a good experience; playing against the best level players on the NSW side and it was good to play for Queensland with some of the boys I usually play against." [SIZE=22px][B]From young gun to senior leader[/B][/SIZE] Not intentionally, but Niu realises he is once again following in his older cousin's footsteps - as a senior player in the Under 18 camp, with the responsibility to look after the younger boys. "I feel pretty old," the 17-year-old said with a laugh. "But the other boys are all tall ... and I'm one of the shortest on the team, so I guess I feel young too but I am one of the older boys this year." It's a responsibility he doesn't begrudge. "As one of the older boys, I just try to lead by example with the other older boys and look after the young boys and bring us all together," Niu said. The talented player, who is happy anywhere in the backline, will line-up at left centre in the State of Origin Game I curtain-raiser. [SIZE=22px][B]Primed for Maroons redemption[/B][/SIZE] While excited for his older cousin's State of Origin debut, Niu's mind is solely focused on redemption for Queensland's loss in the Under 18 match last year. "We went down last year, but I reckon all the boys gave their all last year, it is just what it is... that's State of Origin," Niu said with a hint of disappointment because of the result. "This year we have a great group again. A group that will work for each other and hopefully we can get the job done on Wednesday night. The added bonus of playing in Brisbane in front of friends and family is not lost on the youngster, who started playing rugby league for the Forest Lake Magpies before moving to Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies and then Logan Brothers. Niu's mum and dad will be in the stands at Suncorp Stadium along with Fifita's mother and brother. His two older brothers, older sister and younger brother will be live streaming the match at home. "I'll definitely be sticking around to watch Dave and Queensland in the State of Origin," Niu said. "I think he'll be focused on his debut, so I'm not expecting him to be watching my game, but he knows I'll be looking." Impressive displays as a 16-year-old in Souths Logan's Auswide Bank Mal Meninga team promoted Niu to an Intrust Super Cup debut for the Magpies this year - where he started playing more games in the centres as opposed to his usual fullback spot. "I always wanted to play for Souths, after seeing all the older boys making the Cup team," Niu said. He has scored two tries in his seven appearances and averages 100 metres per game. The 17-year-old believes the Intrust Super Cup has made him a better player, which he hopes will help Queensland to a win in Under 18s this year. "Playing Cup is very physical and tough, but it's fast too," Niu said. "There's no room for making errors." [IMG]https://www.qrl.com.au/contentassets/931f2c7195e344d096edfd44fa49e96d/fanitesi-niu-04.jpg?center=0.3%2C0.5&preset=photo-inline[/IMG] [SIZE=22px][B]Following in Fifita's footsteps ... but no pressure[/B][/SIZE] A laid-back Niu is passionate about his rugby league, there is no denying that. But, he also doesn't put too much pressure on himself. "I am sort of following him (Fifita) in what he's doing," the Broncos-contracted player said. But rather than feel the pressure to make his NRL debut as an 18-year-old like his older cousin, he uses Fifita's success as motivation and inspiration. "He is where he is now because of what he is doing," Niu said, referring to Fifita's dedication to training and his work ethic. "He is an inspiration for me. "Playing in the NRL, it is a long-term goal, but for now I'm just trying to focus on playing good footy and being consistent in what I do. "I'm playing the game I love and I just try to do my best." [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2019/05/31/tesi-niu-draws-origin-inspiration-from-fifita/[/URL] [/QUOTE]

Verification

Active Now

No members online now.

Total: 79 (members: 0, guests: 79)

Reply to thread

Log in

Active Now