NRL Round 20 Preview: Sam Walker & His Halves Parner + Watchlist

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We’re getting into the pointy end of the season, and while not every team is preparing for a finals push, there is still plenty to keep an eye on across the NRL in Round 20.

What's to come below:

• Sam Walker & His Halves Partner

• Chris Vea'ila Scouting Report

• Round 20 Watchlist

  • J'maine Hopgood

  • Lachlan Galvin in the Bulldogs attack

  • Latu Fainu & Adam Doueihi

  • Alofiana Khan-Pereira

  • Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Sam Walker & His Halves Partner

The Sydney Roosters haven’t blown the NRL away this season, but they’re coming for the top teams as we approach the pointy end.

Sam Walker’s return marks the start of their finals push. Now 8th on the ladder with eight wins and eight losses, the Roosters have done enough in his absence to tread water, and have enough time to iron things out ahead of September.

This squad is stacked with talent on the edges and has enough in the middle to lay a strong platform every week. The ironing out will come in how they develop repeatable actions in attack.

Their two tries last week provide a glimpse into spots on the field Walker is looking to dominate, and possibly the role of his fellow half.

In this first try, he’s on the second layer, but plays a simple shovel pass to James Tedesco on the edge. It’s a slick move for two reasons:

1 - Walker is a dangerous run threat himself. He demands the attention of the defence inside, and you can see how hard Jayden Su’A is working to close down his time with the ball. Overchase, and Walker’s left foot step will cause trouble.

2 - The shovel pass puts James Tedesco outside the four-man. You can see the influence that pass has on the edge defence as all three start to backtrack to buy time. Time costs grass, though, and even if the winger could make a tackle on Daniel Tupou, he wouldn’t have far to push through to the line.

Seven minutes later, and the try looks almost exactly the same…

Walker again takes the ball behind a lead outside the four-man and plays Tedesco onto three. The threat of an elite tackle breaker forces the defence into the same movements, and the result is Tupou over in the corner.

It’s a simple play, but particularly effective with Walker out wide on the second layer.

That may be why Townsend is getting the call-up ahead of the Walker-like Sandon Smith…

Walker’s halves partner, despite wearing #7 himself, needs to hold a shortside (as Savala does in the first try) or provide middle service. The key to Walker having the time to get outside four is the first playmaker engaging the middle.

The Roosters are coming good at the right time, provided they can stay healthy. Savala has proven himself as a quality first grade half and profiles well as a foil for Walker. Until then, though, we’re looking for how Walker controls the side in his return from injury, and how his influence, along with Tedesco’s passing game, changes the Roosters’ approach with the ball.

Chris Vea'ila Scouting Report

Newtown Jets centre Chris Vea'ila has been named to make his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

While he might be a name Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks fans have been hearing for a while, he’s a relative unknown to the rest of the competition. The 22-year-old may not remain unknown for long, though.

His ability in attack is at a first grade quality. If the Roosters edge doesn’t get high to cut off his space, Vea’lia has an elite skip and offload in his bag.

That skip off his left foot is dangerous off scrums, too. We often see Nicho Hynes take on the line from a scrum, but I’m excited to see Vea’lia outside him.

*Hynes skips across the first defender, finds Vea’lia, and Vea’lia finds his winger with a flick pass.*

Like any rookie centre, he’s going to be tested defensively. He’s not the biggest body up top and will be a target for Billy Smith and his big right-arm fend. Still, Vea’lia has NRL potential and can make enough of a mark with the ball to warrant his place in the side this week at the very least.

Round 20 Watchlist

J’maine Hopgood at prop, Lachlan Galvin’s style, how Latu Fainu and Adam Doueihi add to the Tigers attack, and where does Alofiana Khan-Pereira fit in the Titans rotation?

J’maine Hopgood: There is a lot going on with this Parramatta Eels side, including the obvious. However, I’m more interested in how Hopgood goes while starting at prop. With Dylan Brown a healthy scratch from the 17, Jason Ryles is looking to the future. Is Hopgood at prop part of it?

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