‘Don’t believe it’: Slater can’t cop Cronk theory

“Sometimes when you’ve got the ability and the talent that Sam Walker has, you become a victim of your own talent,” Slater told Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.

“Because of his level of talent he’s in the NRL at 18, so you’re making all your mistakes front and centre, with cameras all around you, people dissecting and having an opinion of your game, and you’re still a kid.

“It’s like being a doctor, getting thrown straight into a surgery without your education, and saying ‘good luck, we’ll work it out on the way’.

“He is going to get there, we all know that. I don’t think anyone has any doubt that he’s going to put it all together.”

Walker has provided plenty of excitement for footy fans – not just Roosters supporters – over the past two years already.

A freestyle form of playmaking was taught to him from a young age, by father Ben and uncle Shane who earned a reputation for thrilling game styles during their successful time in charge of Queensland Cup side Ipswich.

And while Slater enjoys watching it on the NRL stage, he warns it won’t solely result in a long and happy career for young Walker.

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“The ad-lib style of football is great, we all love it. But it doesn’t wash consistently in the NRL,” Slater said.

“You can’t be consistently an ad-lib type player and have a 10-15 year career and be consistent and be at the top of your game. It just doesn’t work.

“If Sam can put that consistency and build that game model of his game… and then have these flashes of flavour to his game, that’s where it all sits.”

Keary backs Walker to bounce back

Slater also responded to reports last week of his former premiership teammate Cooper Cronk’s role in Walker being demoted to reserve grade.

It was claimed Cronk – who won multiple titles and individual honours at the Storm and Roosters over a storied career – has been stifling Walker’s ad-lib style in his role as a halves consultant at the club, leading to a rift between the Walker family and the Chooks.

Slater says Walker would do well to listen and learn from the champion No.7.

“I don’t believe it to start with, but if it was true… Cooper Cronk has won six premierships as a halfback (two were later stripped at Storm), he’s been Dally M Medallist as a halfback multiple times, and he sustained his career over a long period of time,” Slater said.

“If there’s anyone you want to listen to it is probably Cooper.

“I’ve seen Cooper work with young players, and he doesn’t tell players not to throw long balls, he doesn’t tell them what decision to make. He helps them get the picture that they want more often.

“He doesn’t try to make them like him.”

Walker played in the NSW Cup on Sunday and struggled to lift the Roosters’ reserve grade side, which fell to the Dragons.

NRL coach Trent Robinson says Walker’s demotion is in no way a sign of his future at the club or in the game.

“It was good to see him get out there and play lots of different styles of play, and work out how he wants to run that team,” Robinson told media on Monday.

“There were some things that he did really well, and some things I’d like him to improve on.

“The trust and the belief in him is quite clear. He is a 20-year-old, he’ll continue to progress a lot over the next few years of his career, so this is just a part of it.”

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