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Walker leads Roosters to win without Keary

3 minute read

Halfback Sam Walker has shown why the Sydney Roosters have so much faith in him as a teenager, helping them to a 32-12 win over the Warriors on his NRL debut.

Sam Walker gave the Sydney Roosters hope for a season without Luke Keary as the much-hyped teenage debutant led the Tri-colours to a 32-12 win over the Warriors.

The 18-year-old who was two years ago introduced to NRL fans as the Roosters' replacement for retired star Cooper Cronk set up a try in his first outing and showed the composure of men much older.

James Tedesco also stood up at the back, scoring the Roosters' opening try and running 222 metres as he shrugged off questions over whether Keary's absence would hurt him.

Brett Morris was also as solid as a crucial second-half try helped him to a double and took his tally for the season to nine.

But all eyes were still on Walker after Keary's ACL injury ruled him out for the season last week.

Playing as the Roosters' youngest halfback since Mitchell Pearce in 2007, Walker had four linebreak assists and kicked well close to the line.

The 18-year-old set up his first try when he went across field and put Nat Butcher through a hole after back-to-back six-again calls.

He also had a role in another when he again attacked the right and combined with Joey Manu to put Brett Morris over for his first.

On another play the halfback threw cut-out balls to both sides of the field, showing the talent that drove the Roosters to bring him down from Brisbane at age 16.

"He looks like a boy out there ... he looks young. But that's a part of his game," coach Trent Robinson said.

"He is cunning.

"It was a good foundation game for him and then we saw little bits of Sammy coming out."

But for Robinson it was as much what he didn't do as what he did.

"We get to see a lot of Sam and a lot of people who have watched him there was a lot of spectacular stuff," Robinson said.

"But he put that on hold while he had some good defence.

"They had some short-side attempts on him and he handled it well. He kicked the ball really well and supported well.

"That game was how he should have played tonight."

Hutchison also played well in support and ran the ball well in a Roosters side missing Keary, Lachlan Lam, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Sam Verrils.

But it still wasn't a perfect night.

Sitili Tupouniua suffered a heavy concussion after being collected by Eliesa Katoa's elbow while making a tackle.

The Warriors also have concerns, with an Addin Fonua-Blake knee blow that's likely to at least rule him out Friday's clash with former club Manly.

Despite the scoreline, the New Zealand club had their chances.

Nathan Brown's men led 6-0 through early and were up 12-4 when Tohu Harris chased through on a Tuivasa-Sheck grubber kick.

But they failed to make the most of 25 tackles on the Roosters' line at the start of the second half when trailing 16-12, before letting Morris score from the next set to give his team control.

"It was very crucial. That probably summed up the game," Brown said.

"They were real standout things to me, what they saved and how quick they were. Whereas I don't think we saved any."

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