Queensland coach Billy Slater has been "pleasantly surprised" to see new sides of Sam Walker during State of Origin camp for his hotly anticipated debut. The circumstances of a first Origin game are rarely more challenging than those facing the Sydney Roosters star in Origin I at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night. Walker will start in the coveted halfback jersey in front of a hostile Sydney crowd, doing so in place of reigning player of the series Tom Dearden.
The 23-year-old Walker also enters the Origin arena on the back of a selection battle, having trumped a list of challengers led by in-form North Queensland half Jake Clifford. But after observing Walker across nine days in camp, Slater had no doubt the Roosters No.7 would be able to handle the heat of the Origin cauldron.
"Just his temperament, the way he's handled everything, it's like that he's been here for five or six years, honestly," Slater said. "He's been really impressive. He's had a great week. He's a good little player, he looks really confident."
Through 96 games for the Roosters, Walker has become known for his impressive short kicking game, attacking creativity and composure in big moments. But Slater has now come to appreciate other aspects of Walker's game ahead of his Origin debut.
"He's a very unique style of player," Slater said. "I've been pleasantly surprised with his skill level, actually. We all know he's a very creative little player. That's probably enhanced my opinion, spending the week with him. He's quite a level-headed, quiet sort of lad. He's had a great week. I'm looking forward to seeing him get out there and get his game on. Our aim is to help him do that."
Slater also reiterated that Walker's halves partner and captain Cameron Munster was fit to play despite missing training on Saturday. "We just felt, the other day, that it was best for Cam just to have a session off, freshen his body up," he said. "He had a bit of tightness. Unfortunately it wasn't in the throat and his voicebox, that's still pretty loose."
Slater said Queensland had "absolutely" tweaked their game given Walker was now halfback and not Dearden, who is known primarily for his sharp running game. "There are some things that are non-negotiable in this footy team. The footy team's created a really high standard for itself over the last little period," he said. "(But) when you have different players come into the team, they've got different strengths. A part of a coach's job is to help bring those strengths out."
