NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 3
3 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Brisbane centre Chris Walker should have no trouble finding a new home in the National Rugby League.
That much was evident on Monday after Walker celebrated the end of the June 30 anti-tampering deadline and the start of the NRL's silly season by shopping his wares around the league.
The Brisbane speedster - who has rejected a final offer from the Broncos - has at least five Sydney clubs clamouring for his services.
And rugby union remains an option, with the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies believed to have shown an interest in signing him.
Walker's manager Chris Orr spoke with most of the NRL sides, with the Sydney Roosters or South Sydney favoured to secure his services if he stays in the 13-man game.
But union is also an option for the 22-year-old, who has clubs in both sports licking their lips at the prospect of his try-scoring punch in their backline.
"It's about what club or what code will paint the best picture for Chris Walker," Orr said.
"The guy can score a try. That's probably the biggest thing people want these days."
Statistics and South Sydney coach Craig Coleman back that up.
Walker has scored 31 tries in 56 appearances for the Broncos, and Coleman today compared the Maroons flyer to try-scoring phenomenon Phil Blake, who spent four years with the Rabbitohs in the late 1980s.
Blake scored 37 tries in 74 games for the Rabbitohs after starting his career at Manly, where he scored a stunning 63 tries in 90 games.
"Phil Blake was a crowd pleaser," Coleman said today.
"This club hasn't had a crowd pleaser like Phil Blake since he left.
"We're finding it hard, especially against the best teams, to get over the line.
"(Walker) has natural speed. He's a try scorer like Phil Blake."
The Northern Eagles have also been linked with Walker but could solve their centre problems by looking elsewhere.
The Eagles are ready to take advantage of the Australian Rugby Union's failure to gain a fourth Super 12 team by swooping on one of the game's emerging talents.
Waratahs centre Sam Harris, 22, has been cut loose by NSW as they reduce their contracted players for next season.
The Waratahs' loss could be the Eagles' gain.
Harris' axing comes despite NSW coach Bob Dwyer saying two months ago the only thing standing between the solid centre and a Wallabies jumper was experience.
"We're reasonably keen because he has a league background," Thomson said.
"It's a bit easier to get value out of someone like that."
New Zealand Warriors fullback Ivan Cleary, a Manly junior, also remained on the Eagles' shopping list while Thomson expected to re-sign promising youngsters Jason King and Chad Randall this week.
The Raiders have been linked with Walker and Parramatta duo Brad Drew and Ian Hindmarsh.