Walker hits the ground running in Origin to win stamp of approval from ‘Alfie’ Langer

Sam Walker was shattered in the Queensland sheds as he came to terms with NSW’s staggering turnaround in the dramatic State of Origin series opener, but Maroons great Allan Langer says the Sydney Roosters halfback has proven he can shine in the game’s most demanding arena.

As Walker dribbled a grubber into the path of Roosters teammate Rob Toia to put Queensland in front at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night, it was as if Langer himself had pulled the boots on for the Maroons one more time.

It was straight out of the “Alfie” playbook, but 23-year-old Walker was only getting started. He threw the final pass for another try as Queensland took advantage of a Blues blunder-a-thon to seemingly run away with the game.

So smoothly did Walker take to Origin that he was on track to be man of the match before the send-off of Kalyn Ponga in the 57th minute changed everything.

But Langer, a member of Billy Slater’s Queensland staff, declared the playmaker’s performance a great debut.

“He’s a fantastic kid – just his energy and his character,” he said. “You know, he’s a larrikin and he plays that way. He’s got that uncanny ability to do things.

“It just shows he’s up to Origin level, which is good.”

Hailing from Ipswich and weighing in at less than 80kg, the comparisons between Walker and Langer are obvious.

Walker had to wait a little longer to get a start in the interstate showpiece – Langer was famously chosen by Wayne Bennett at the age of 20 in 1987 – but proved himself worthy of the jersey after it became vacant when Tom Dearden suffered an ankle injury.

With the North Queensland No.7 seemingly sidelined for the series, it will remain Walker’s this year.

“I just said to play his own game and enjoy himself, and he sure does,” said Langer, who played with Walker’s father, Ben, and his uncles, Chris and Shane. “He doesn’t stress out too much about things. I just think he did his job so well.

“He’s been playing in the NRL so he does it every week, and certainly when you get to this level you improve. Certainly with the players around him, it just gives him more confidence.

“He’s had a great short kicking game, and I know he works hard on his long kicking game as well. He’s only at the start of his career, so he’s got plenty ahead of me.”

Demonstrating his natural flair, Walker was instrumental in the Maroons’ freelance football that left NSW on the back foot for the first half hour in game one.

Queensland and Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant was impressed.

“He was awesome,” Grant said. “He brought his game. He was really vocal and confident in his own game. We had a number of guys [having their] first time in the squad, getting a feel for the arena. Hopefully, we can build on those combinations.”

Walker himself said he was comfortable in his surroundings but was still trying to digest the result.

“I felt fine out there. Just at the moment it’s hard … I’m disappointed,” he said. “We’ll be back.”

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