RLWC live updates: Walker ‘blowing up relationships’ as contract saga drags on

Sam Walker has just experienced one of the most turbulent weeks a rugby league player could endure.

The chaos began on Monday when the Roosters abruptly withdrew their contract offer following a prolonged dispute with Walker’s management.

Things went from bad to worse on Tuesday when Walker was replaced by Tom Dearden in the Kangaroos halves to partner Cameron Munster.

The decision left him on the outer of a Rugby League World Cup game where Australia went on to demolish the Cook Islands.

Speaking on Nine’s Wide World of Sports panel on Sunday morning, cricket legend Mark Taylor offered a blunt assessment of the fallout.

“It is an incredible and terrible story,” the former Australian captain said.

“While we do not know everything going on behind the scenes, the Roosters club is absolutely entitled to withdraw their offer. It was on the table long enough for Sam Walker and his management to accept and commit to being a Rooster for life, which is what the club wanted and what we were hearing Walker wanted.

“However, it all took too long. Everyone is holding out for another $100,000 or $50,000, and they are blowing relationships on the back of it.

“Well done to Nick Politis for doing what he did, because clubs need to get to the stage where they set a deadline to sign or move on. Loyalty is a two-way street between the club and the player. We are seeing a shift away from that, but if players want loyalty from clubs, they have to show loyalty to the club.”

Olympic gold medallist Cooper Woods weighed in from an athlete’s perspective, arguing that chasing a pay cheque rarely pays off.

“From an athlete’s point of view, this is an interesting position. When you want to win and achieve, you want to be around the best,” said Woods.

“If he starts fresh at a new team like the Titans or the Perth Bears, is it going to upset his career?

“You achieve great things in great environments, so how long will it be until he holds another premiership cup? While the money side is good, winning premierships and representing Australia and Queensland offers much more.”

Paralympic swimmer Ellie Cole also threw her support behind the Roosters’ decision to walk away from the stalled negotiations and noted how the landscape in professional sport has shifted in recent years.

New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will miss the Rugby League World Cup semi finals after being slapped with a one-match ban for an ugly high shot that infuriated Brandon Wakeham and led to chaos on Saturday afternoon.

Fiji’s halfback Wakeham was also given a one-match ban for punching Mulitalo in the head in retaliation, charged with striking.

Mulitalo and Wakeham were both sent off in the 52nd minute of the game won by a rampaging New Zealand side 78-0.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

3:40pm | Australian Jillaroos vs Wales (Commbank Stadium)

5:40pm | Lebanon vs France (Commbank Stadium)

8:05pm | Tonga vs Samoa (Commbank Stadium)

Hello and welcome to the nine.com.au live blog of the Rugby League World Cup triple-header, headlined by tonight’s blockbuster between Samoa and Tonga.

Our team will take you through all the action at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.