Kevin Walters says his decision to pick Tom Dearden over Sam Walker in the halves for Australia this weekend had nothing to do with the Sydney Roosters messy contract stand-off with their premiership-winning halfback.
Less than 24 hours after the Roosters sensationally withdrew their $4.2 million deal extension over three seasons to Walker, Australia’s coach omitted him from his starting team. Dearden and Cameron Munster will be given a shot against the Cook Islands in Townsville on Saturday.
“But that [contract situation] had nothing to do with it,” Walters told this masthead about his decision.
“Sammy is a man, he can handle that situation – there are a lot of players here who haven’t settled their careers beyond next season, so he’s not the only one.
“Their managers are the ones who are looking into it. The players get updates, so they’re not really talking directly with clubs or coaches, and even if they are, it’s all part and parcel of being a rugby league player.
“I don’t see it being difficult or that much of a sideshow. It is their futures, which is an important part of their lives, and it’s unavoidable at this time of year.
“Sam has been great around the camp, he trained well on Tuesday. You wouldn’t know what’s happening on the outside with his contract situation.
“[As for Dearden], I saw a bit from Tommy in the first game when he came on as a half to replace Mitchell [Moses] and I liked the way he played.
“He was five-eighth last week, he played well and had some good moments, but this week I feel like it was the right time to give him an opportunity at No. 7.”
Walters, meanwhile, confirmed he had flirted with the idea of using James Tedesco on the wing after handing the No.1 jersey back to Reece Walsh for Saturday’s clash.
Walsh was a standout at fullback against New Zealand, while Tedesco returned serve on Sunday against Fiji when he set up several tries in the Kangaroos’ victory and kept the players calm when it looked like a boilover might be on the cards early in the second half.
“I’ve gone back to Reece, it’s for this week,” Walters said. “I thought about trying to find a slot for ‘Teddy’ maybe on the wing, but that would have been an injustice to him.
“He hasn’t played a lot there, and we’ve already got two good wingers here. I didn’t want to change that. He’ll be in the squad, and if required, he’ll play a role off the bench. Teddy is a pretty good guy to have on the bench; just his energy and the way he plays, there’s nobody more competitive than him in the team.”
Ethan Strange will be the only debutant for Australia, with the Canberra playmaker named in the No.14 jersey.
Melbourne hooker Harry Grant, one of 11 Kangaroos set to become free agents on Sunday, said his contract situation would not prove a distraction.
Grant said more players than usual were prepared to test their value on the market because of the uncertainty around the size of the salary cap when the new broadcast deal kicks in from 2028, and the addition of two clubs in the shape of the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs.
Penrith back-rower Liam Martin, another Kangaroo yet to sign an extension with his club, said the players were teasing each other about which areas they were looking at on real estate sites.
“It’s good to have that banter,” Martin said. “What the group does well is not let it distract us, once we’re training, we’re on and focused on the job at hand, but during downtime, we can have that laugh.”
Martin said his preference was to remain at Penrith. “Fingers crossed I can work out a deal and stay,” he said. “I absolutely love being there – it’s still my No. 1 choice to stay.”
Walker’s Roosters teammate Salesi Foketi, meanwhile, said he hopes the Tricolours can find a way to keep the star halfback.
Up to seven clubs are said to be circling Walker, with the 24-year-old set to become one of the hottest players on the market from Sunday, while the Roosters may even opt to let him go next season if he can find a deal for 2027.
Foketi on Tuesday said that would be a sad development.
“The club’s very good and Sammy’s very good,” Foketi said after Tonga World Cup training in Sydney. “Sammy goes out and competes and that’s just the kind of person he is on and off the field.”
Asked if it would be a disaster for the Roosters to lose their premiership-winning half, Foketi replied: “Disaster? Jeez, that’s a big word.
“Yeah, honestly, I’m not too sure. I’m just focused on the World Cup at the moment and taking it day by day, as I do,” he said. ”Everyone’s irreplaceable. Everyone plays the game in their own way, everyone’s unique in that way.”