The only thing left to agree on is the terms, although with a gulf of $1 million between the playerโs asking price and the teamโs four-year offer when they last sat down, there is some distance between the parties to be bridged.
โItโs obviously such a special club and Nick is the best at what he does,โ Walker said at the World Cup launch on Saturday.
โHeโs done an amazing job with me as well. Iโm so grateful for everything that heโs done for me. Fingers crossed, over the next little period weโll be able to get something done.
โFor now, Iโm focused on getting myself right and weโve got to prepare for a game on Thursday [against New Zealand], so itโs probably not the time right now to be thinking about it. But Iโm sure that time will come in the next couple of weeks.โ
Walker made his State of Origin debut this year as well as collecting a premiership ring and would be in hot demand if he tested out the open market from next month.
The tax-free offerings of the PNG Chiefs, who are still to sign a halfback, would supercharge his earnings if he ended up there, but he said his intention was to not be available by the time the new team and any other is permitted to approach him in November.
โThatโs the plan, to get that all done then [before November 1],โ he said. โThe plan is definitely to stay. Iโm fortunate enough to have a really good managing team that will look after that for me, and Iโm sure Nick and them will be able to get something going and do the work in the background while I can focus on my football.โ
Walker joined Waltersโ squad in Sydney after a heady week in which he celebrated grand final glory, attended the Roosters presentation night and then flew to Airlie Beach in Queensland and back for his brother-in-lawโs wedding.
With Cameron Munster, Mitchell Moses and Tom Dearden also in contention for spots in the Australian halves, it is yet to emerge what role Walker will play for the national team during the tournament.
But ahead of a blockbuster opening pool game against the Kiwis at Allianz Stadium, he is just lapping it all up.
โItโs been a full-on week, obviously,โ Walker said. โCelebrating winning the grand final with the boys was something pretty special and to achieve a lifelong dream was unbelievable
โThen the next day to get a call-up to represent your country as well was just the cherry on top. Iโm really looking forward to getting into camp and getting to know a lot of players that Iโve looked up to and played against for such a long time, and try and learn as much as I can of them. In the end, hopefully I make Australia proud as well.โ
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Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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