BY DAN

Zac Woolford and Adrian Treyilvan are going. Danny Levi wants to join them too (only no one wants him). Tom Starling must be starting to feel lonely. Owen Pattie may well be the future, but it’s a lot to ask him to be the now. So Canberra are looking to replenish their hooker rotation.

The answer, at the moment, is Danny Walker of the Warrington Wolves in the Super League. The 25 year old English representative apparently wants in. The problem is his club isn’t interested in releasing him from his current deal, which expires at the end of 2026.

I would not draw a line through the matter there. We’ve seen this play out before. The Raiders make a move for someone, the club says “oh no we could never” all the while bartering like a wily stall-owner with an unsuspecting tourist. A simple no doesn’t mean Canberra aren’t going to get the rug (man look, it’s a good rug. Really holds the room together). I would see this more as the start of bargaining on a transfer fee than the end of it.

The outlay for Walker will be substantial in the initial year at least. Transfer fees count against the salary cap (actually they don’t apparently). They’ve got plenty of spending coming off their labour outlay. and their additions are all young players who, while likely paid ‘overs’ for their experience, aren’t likely paid big money. One would think that next year at least there’s a bit of coin to go around. They would likely be able to pay the transfer fee and sign Walker to a deal and have money left over to fill out the rest of their roster.

That, obviously is speculation. The Canberra Times reporting of it was pretty strenuous in the denial from Joel Carbone. You’d expect that if the Raiders were in the midst of bargaining (the bit where you go ‘oh no i’m leaving’). You’d also expect them to say that if they weren’t. That’s the hard bit. I would suspect anyone too sure in either direction, but I’m leaning towards this being a real possibility.

It would be a convenient pickup if the Milk could fashion it. At 25 Walker fills a need of a player entering their prime. Owen Pattie is presumed next but lord knows banking on someone who was playing Flegg most of this year is a fools errand. This is as doubly so for a position as physically demanding as hooker. Walker, with Starling and maybe Levi would mean the Raiders would have potentially very good coverage until Pattie stamps his claim to the jersey.

As to whether he’ll be any good, well, I guess we’ll see if we see. I’m not a massive Super League guy (I really wish they’d tell us who they’re targeting. It’d make my late night footy watching much more productive). From what I’ve seen in the three Warrington games I’ve half watched in a post-review whisky haze this season (plus some highlights packages – thanks to Nick for doing research for me) he’s got a good clip of pace, can dance in the line, and is smart and quick manipulating close to the ruck (I love the way he uses his feet to turn the defence the wrong way). I haven’t seen any width to his passing, or proof his defensive ability will hold up in the NRL. I think you’d project his upside as a better Tom Starling than a new Josh Hodgson, if that makes sense. But you don’t get to represent England by accident.

It’s an intriguing development that we’ll keep an eye out on. If there’s been a spot in the roster in desperate need of upgrading it’s dummy-half. The fact that Canberra are looking beyond the NRL suggests they’re looking for upside. That is the benefit of what remains on their roster. They have certainty (Starling) and the future (Pattie). Having a shot at Walker just gives them a shot at immediate upside. A player with skill around the ruck but not width suggests they’ll still need a 13 who can help in that fashion, which would make keeping Corey Horsburgh so valuable (and Hohepa Puru lord willing).

Hopefully that’s the thinking. As it is this is simply something to keep an eye on. But these can move quickly. The Matty Nicholson discussion went from rumour to rejected to done before we could even pump out a second article. This seems to be a proper mystery worth investigating. Cherchez le râteau I guess (pardon my appalling French).

I’ll give you a shiny gold coin if you can tell me how to actually say ‘look out for rakes’ in French, or tell me whether Walker can pass the ball more than eight feet. Failing that you can like the page on Facebook, follow me, Rob, or Viv  on Twitter, or share this on social media. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not. 

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