Chris Walker

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

yep those white ones, because penrith are the Minor Premiers...soon to be Premiers

Just be proud of what the Raiders have acheived this season. You don't have lower yourself to other fans standards.

Especially ones whose team once again stumbled out of the finals courtesy of the Roosters.

 

[Blind Willie McTell]

Don't you guys think that it says what type of club you are to sign Chris Walker. Souths paid a lot of money (money they could have spent else where) for him to play like crap and then leave and go to the team on top ... what a joke !! East should have taken a stand and said its not right ... i would be embarrassed to have that guy in mt team......

LOL! Are you for real? Like Chris Walker is the first player ever to switch clubs mid-season. Blokes have been doing it since day 1.

Is Souths are dumb enough to pay 900,000$ for a winger, then more fool them.

 

[cram]

Well what can you say. If I was Walker I would have left Souths as well. He is the type of guy that needs discipline, something that is surely lacking at the Rabbits. Hence thats why he sought out stable clubs like the Rooster, Dogs and Knights.

The Rabbits ability to buy and attract quality players remains a problem. A culture of the "battlers" and that we deserve to be here because we have been since 1908 is no longer enough to gain credibility. You have to be professional, hence thats why he is succesful with the Roosters.

It will be intersting to see how the Rabbits latest recruit, McDougall, goes at Souths. Another has been going no where.

And for the record I am not a Roosters supporter.

 

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

The thing that really irks me is that people say that Walker left when the going got tough.

It never was easy at Souths to begin with. It had nothing to do with the club going through tough times with injuries or loss of form. It was to do with how the club was being run, the player roster and the coaching staff.

I have left jobs, and I'm sure there are others, where as it panned out I felt it was not suited to my long term goals. I beleive this is the same for Chris.

Proof of this is that he is playing well and he is happy. Sure he has the likes of Fittler, Finch & Wing to run off from. But that's his point. He dosn't set up plays he finishes them. Souths are incapable of structured plays let alone making breaks and this would have frustrated Walker.

Now if Souths were dumb enough to release him without any caveats on his exit clause then that's Souths problem not Walkers. Certainly not the Roosters.

Why would the Roosters sign Walker?

Why not. $40K for a winger with genuine pace who has proven ability to finish tries. I'm sure other clubs would have jumped at the opportunity.

Setting a bad example for "up-commers"?
I don't think so. I think it would have been positive. Lessons on how contracts do go both ways and to ensure that you are not trapped into a deal you may not be entirely comfortable with.

Should a contract be honoured?
Of course. But unless you have access to the contract, you have no right to say whether there was a gross breach in the contract from Walkers side. Don't be niave to think that a contract is as simple as "your with us for 3 years, sign here". A smart manager looking after his clients welfare would have some exit clauses when dealing with clubs. It would be negligent of the player manager to commit his client to a long term deal with a club the likes of Souths.

Bottom line. Get off his case.

 

[cram]

Good points Catatonic_Omnivore and thats my point with McDougall. Look who he has had playing inside him to set him up. Many a seemingly good winger has left the Knights to disappear into oblivion. McDougall chased the money in the end and I predict he will become as frustrated as what Walker did.

 

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

Good points Catatonic_Omnivore and thats my point with McDougall. Look who he has had playing inside him to set him up. Many a seemingly good winger has left the Knights to disappear into oblivion. McDougall chased the money in the end and I predict he will become as frustrated as what Walker did.

Only time will tell I guess.

However, McDougall & Walker play a different style of game. I think McDougall can create space for himself whereas Walker is more likely to run off guys like Fittler.

My money is on Stringer leaving the club. Doesn't seem to be a happy chappy. Too bad he didn't have the same exit clause as Walker. If he did he would have gone a long time ago.

 

[antonius]

Cram is spot on when he says Walker needed discipline, honestly Langmack was not the one to do that, Walker would've been telling Langmack what to do and how to do it. Stuart is just the type of coach Walker needs, he would've laid it on the line to Walker, "do as I say or your out" something along those lines. I am sure Walker would've have relised Stuart meant what he said. In hindsight Walker was a smart aquisition for the Roosters, they had a few injuries and he was available, if he didn't measure up then he would have just been unloaded. I said at the time you wouldn't touch him with a barge pole, but he's filled the role they wanted, so it was a good move.

 

[woodgers]

I think the reason why most people are angry/frustrated is because he shows absolutly no heart in leaving the battling club on the bottom to go and play for the top club who just happen to be their local rivals.

Aussie's love a battler and someone who gets in the trenches when the going gets tough. To turn your back is unforgivable. The people saying he left because he was unhappy is rubbish. He couldn't hack it. He has spent his whole career playing for teams which have fantastic backlines, he stands on his wing, takes the final pass, dives over and does his arrogant dance. I reckon at least 3/4 of the tries he scores you or me could score also. He goes to Souths where he is expected to do something for once in his career and he buckles. Stop making excuses for him, he took the easy way out full stop.

Without wanting to start another debate/topic - the Roosters were suspected of toeing the line salary cap wise at the start of the year and then they find another $45,000. Of course other fans are going to be suspicious and Peed off.

Jealousy??? Not from me, we don't want him down here. We have players in Reserve Grade better than him

 

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

Cram is spot on when he says Walker needed discipline, honestly Langmack was not the one to do that, Walker would've been telling Langmack what to do and how to do it. Stuart is just the type of coach Walker needs, he would've laid it on the line to Walker, "do as I say or your out" something along those lines. I am sure Walker would've have relised Stuart meant what he said. In hindsight Walker was a smart aquisition for the Roosters, they had a few injuries and he was available, if he didn't measure up then he would have just been unloaded. I said at the time you wouldn't touch him with a barge pole, but he's filled the role they wanted, so it was a good move.

You have to question the motivation of players at Souths with Langmack as coach.

For Senior players it's probably a good way of nourishing their financial status.

Fringe players like Cragie, well, they really have nowhere to go.

Young players with potential. They just left as is the case with Merrit.

It's probably clear that a player with ambition would prefer to be anywhere else than Souths.

I thought it was a brave move by Walker from the start. He knew the flack would be comming in thick and fast but he knew that his future under Langmack was as good as gone.

 

[TheEye]

IWithout wanting to start another debate/topic - the Roosters were suspected of toeing the line salary cap wise at the start of the year and then they find another $45,000. Of course other fans are going to be suspicious and Peed off.

And Luke Phillips retiring didn't free up any money right?

 

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

IWithout wanting to start another debate/topic - the Roosters were suspected of toeing the line salary cap wise at the start of the year and then they find another $45,000. Of course other fans are going to be suspicious and Peed off.

And Luke Phillips retiring didn't free up any money right?

Isn't it amazing that as soon as the Roosters sign someone the Salary Cap Flag goes up. But when they release someone, no one really takes notice.

I say this because we have constanly remind them of the steady stream of players that have been released.

Look at both sides of the ledger people.

 

[woodgers]

And Luke Phillips retiring didn't free up any money right?

You signed Finch and Payten. Walker then came on board. Luke Phillips must have been getting some serious cash by my calculations. Maybe he was in the top 10 best paid players in the NRL.

 

[antonius]

You have to question the motivation of players at Souths with Langmack as coach.

For Senior players it's probably a good way of nourishing their financial status.

Fringe players like Cragie, well, they really have nowhere to go.

Young players with potential. They just left as is the case with Merrit.

It's probably clear that a player with ambition would prefer to be anywhere else than Souths.

It will be interesting to see how long McDougall lasts there, he is a very headstrong bloke, and does pretty much as he pleases, in that he trains how and when he wants too, goes off off on his own, and to some extent plays when he feels like it, if Langmack goes softly softly with him Doogs will walk all over him. McDougall only came back and played with us this season when the riot act was read to him by the club, I'm sure if the contract termination hadn't have been waved at him, he would have happily sat out the season. He is a devastating player when he plays, unfortunately that isn't very often. I can't see Langmack changing any of that. Next season will just see more of the same for Souths while ever Langmack is there I'm affraid. The bloke I feel sorry for is Fletcher, far to good to be with them.

 

[TheEye]

And Luke Phillips retiring didn't free up any money right?

You signed Finch and Payten. Walker then came on board. Luke Phillips must have been getting some serious cash by my calculations. Maybe he was in the top 10 best paid players in the NRL.

:roll: :roll:

Okay - deep breath.... Finch and Payen were signed at the end of last season.... do you think the money freed up from the the loss of Green, Mullins, Bonnetti, Fletcher and Hood MAY have in some way been able to go towards those 2 signings????

 

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

And Luke Phillips retiring didn't free up any money right?

You signed Finch and Payten. Walker then came on board. Luke Phillips must have been getting some serious cash by my calculations. Maybe he was in the top 10 best paid players in the NRL.

:roll: :roll:

Okay - deep breath.... Finch and Payen were signed at the end of last season.... do you think the money freed up from the the loss of Green, Mullins, Bonnetti, Fletcher and Hood MAY have in some way been able to go towards those 2 signings????

Like I said earlier. Ignorance is no excuse. The truth is out there.

But I must say the statement on Phillips is quite amusing. Top 10 best paid player in the NRL :lol: :lol: :lol:

Phillips is a good player, one of the best fullbacks to play for the Roosters in recent years. But seriously, where do you think the league selectors rank Phillips so far as representative selections are concerned?

I think its time for your medication.

 

[EdBurton]

As a Souths fan, I would like to point out that I know we were pathetic this season, and I don't expect too much more next season. Defeatist attitude, yes. But I'm trying to be realistic.

Anyway, I wasn't happy when we signed Walker in the first place. I've just never thought much of him at all. As a player or as a person (from what I had seen of his behaviour) However, I had hoped that he would be able to prove me wrong this year. He didn't. That's all I really have to say about it.

I too feel sorry for Fletcher, cause that bloke tried his best to lead the way for Souths, but just didn't have the support he needed. But he's still enthusiastic and positive about next year, and I like that. The other bloke that I do feel sorry for is Stringer, because he was one of our best all year too and you could just see how frustrated he was by the end of the season.

P.S. no matter what the ladder says, I think that this years team was much better than last years team.

 

[Catatonic_Omnivore]

As a Souths fan, I would like to point out that I know we were pathetic this season, and I don't expect too much more next season. Defeatist attitude, yes. But I'm trying to be realistic.

Anyway, I wasn't happy when we signed Walker in the first place. I've just never thought much of him at all. As a player or as a person (from what I had seen of his behaviour) However, I had hoped that he would be able to prove me wrong this year. He didn't. That's all I really have to say about it.

I too feel sorry for Fletcher, cause that bloke tried his best to lead the way for Souths, but just didn't have the support he needed. But he's still enthusiastic and positive about next year, and I like that. The other bloke that I do feel sorry for is Stringer, because he was one of our best all year too and you could just see how frustrated he was by the end of the season.

P.S. no matter what the ladder says, I think that this years team was much better than last years team.

I feel for you Ed, I share your pain.

I wished that others out there like Slugs or Cassie can see the forrest for the trees so to speak.

Fletch will always be Fletch. A great loss for us but would be nothing less than a great gain for Souths. Stringer, well, I would be surprised to see him still there at the end of 2004.

Despite what anyone else says, there is no shame in supporting the Roosters this year.

 

[EdBurton]

I feel for you Ed, I share your pain.

I wished that others out there like Slugs or Cassie can see the forrest for the trees so to speak.

Fletch will always be Fletch. A great loss for us but would be nothing less than a great gain for Souths. Stringer, well, I would be surprised to see him still there at the end of 2004.

Despite what anyone else says, there is no shame in supporting the Roosters this year.

Mate, as far as I'm concerned, a person can support whoever they like, as long as they're passionate.

I'm not too confident of Stringer playing for Souths after next year. Unless we can have a more successful season next year.
But as I said, it's not looking TOO promising. Maybe in a few years time if we can hold out. We've got some good young players so you never know.... I've got my fingers crossed.

 

[woodgers]

But I must say the statement on Phillips is quite amusing. Top 10 best paid player in the NRL

:lol: :lol: :lol:

New word of the day for you: Sarcasim. Do you really think that I thought Phillips was in the top 10. I was making a point.

That's not really the issue. As I said in my post I don't want to get into that, I read your forum all the time and know that you guys have a million and one excuses and I couldn't be bothered arguing the point. I was making a point about Chris Walker as the topic suggests.

 

[antonius]

It's already been touched on here, IMO Souths problems start at the Admin/Coaching area. Too unstable in both areas. I really don't think Langmack has the makings of a top line coach, he comes across as a bloke just keeping his head above water, much like Coleman,and that's not de-riding Coleman, his heart is on his sleeve as far as Souths go but he just won't cut it as a coach of a first grade team, niether will Langmack. Souths should forget about spending big money on players that are near the end of their playing days, and spend the money on getting a recognised proven coach, then work on the young players coming thru. It'll take time, but with the right bloke coaching them you can build a team that's there for the long term, rather than trying to buy success immediately with guys that are only at the club marking time until retirement. A good coach, and Fletcher as Captain to motivate the younger players is the way to go I think. Look at Penrith, they are a good example of that methodology.