Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has addressed the recent contract dispute involving star halfback Sam Walker, following the player’s decision not to re-sign with the club beyond the 2027 season. The situation has sparked significant media and public debate over Walker’s handling of negotiations and the club’s deadline for a new deal.
Walker reportedly contacted Robinson and Roosters chairman Nick Politis on Wednesday night to explain that he needed more time to consider the club’s offer, which reportedly included a $1.2 million per season contract extension starting in 2028. However, some critics and commentators have argued that Walker should have communicated this stance earlier, especially given the Roosters’ deadline of 7:30 p.m. the previous Monday to finalize the agreement.
Robinson clarified that contract discussions have never been part of his direct conversations with Walker, stating that they focus primarily on football matters. “No one’s done anything wrong, no one’s a bad person in this,” Robinson said. “He didn’t want to sign, we wanted to sign him and we couldn’t get it done.” He also noted that negotiations had started mid-year and were pushed back multiple times before the club set the post-season deadline, emphasizing the broader impact the decision has on the team’s planning and other players’ contracts.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Robinson confirmed that Walker remains contracted to the Roosters through 2027 but will not be with the club from 2028 onwards unless circumstances change. “He’s a Rooster until the end of 2027 and then he’s off from ’28, and that’s his decision,” Robinson stated. When asked about the possibility of re-negotiating to keep Walker beyond 2027, Robinson was unequivocal that the club had made its position clear and that negotiations were finished.
In addition to explaining the logistics of the negotiations, Robinson publicly defended Walker’s character amid what he described as excessive criticism. He expressed frustration with the negative commentary surrounding Walker’s conduct during the contract talks, saying, “No one’s on a lifelong contract. He’s signed until the end of next year. He’s a great guy... he just didn’t want to sign for 2028, so it’s pretty simple, and we’ve moved on.” Robinson also echoed Politis’ stance that the club will not pursue Walker to change his mind.
The Roosters now face the challenge of managing the squad without their premiership-winning halfback beyond the upcoming season, as planning for the future continues amid this high-profile contract saga.