'Like something had exploded': Sam Walker explains 'agony' of season-ending ACL injury

Sam Walker has spoken for the first time since being hit with a season-ending knee injury, with the Roosters star revealing it felt "like something had exploded".

In a horror blow on the eve of the finals, Walker and star teammate Brandon Smith both suffered ACL tears, leaving the Tricolours without two of their most crucial players.

Walker's injury came without contact, which is often a tell-tale sign of a torn ACL, while Smith's was due to an ugly tackle from Raiders veteran Elliott Whitehead.

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Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 22-year-old detailed the "agony" he felt in the sheds after the Roosters staff confirmed their diagnosis.

"The knee went on me and I felt a pop," Walker said.

"I was adamant when I went into the sheds someone had hit my knee. Then I saw the footage of nobody around me, and I knew it was the force of me landing on the ground that had caused this feeling like something had exploded inside my knee.

"The first two minutes was the worst pain I've ever felt. I was in complete agony. I was calling for the green whistle and medicab to start with. But then the pain went away.

"I was even saying to the physio, 'give me a second, I might be able to run this off'. When I went into the sheds, a few physios were testing it and couldn't quite gauge what was going on. After a couple of minutes, I asked one of the physios, and he told me what he thought, which ended up being accurate.

"That's when it hit home. There were a few tears in the sheds, only because I knew it was our opportunity to finish in the top four, and the fact you play footy to get to this stage of the year. To pull up short this late in the year, it was frustrating."

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Walker had been in red-hot form this season and looked primed to take the Chooks deep into the finals series and potentially towards his first premiership in the top grade.

His coveted No.7 jumper will now be handed over to Sandon Smith, who has the full support of Walker as he prepares to partner Luke Keary.

"I'm really close with Sando, and I know he'll step up," he said.

"He's got plenty of ability, he has a touch football background, so his skill-set is at a really high level, and he's also got a lot of mongrel.

"He's a little angry ant sometimes. But that will do him wonders there. It's a great opportunity for him."

Walker's teammates will take on old rivals South Sydney in round 27 before a qualifying final against either the Storm, Panthers or Sharks, depending on results.