BY DAN

The Danny Walker dream, such that it is, looks finally over for the Canberra Raiders with Walker extending his contract at Warrington until the end of 2029.

Not that it was alive before. The end of the discussion last year had seemingly done so with both teams shaking hands and walking away. The English team wanted too much money. The Raiders weren’t going to front it. Most of us hoped it would be revisited at some point. The idea of watching the current crop of rakes being so influential in Canberra’s season hardly appeals.

If they were interested, Canberra’s key piece of leverage has been stripped from them. The ticking clock reminding Warrington they only had so much time to get a return for their asset is now gone. This deal has wound back that timepiece like the sun is going to be shining a helluva lot less.

It doesn’t mean a deal is impossible. But if it was unlikely before it’s now got a bit of a ‘wander into Mordor’ vibe to it. The money will be more. The intransigence of the Wolves stronger. If Canberra, or any other NRL club comes knocking, they’ll find whatever the fee the Raiders thought was ludicrous to be a deal, a steal, sale of the fucking century. Sometimes these long term deals get done only for a transfer agreement to be done in the coming days – a last gasp of offering the moon when the time in the sun shine is right there. But if it does get down now, then it’s going to hurt.

If Canberra were foxing when they said they were all in on Owen Pattie instead of chasing Reece Robson, or Brandon Smith, then their bluff has been called here. The other options out there have all the upside of grout. Pick your favourite in the market. They’ll do a job. They’ll be ok. But they are known quantities. Pattie represents a bet on the future. But let’s be clear: it is a bet. Gamble responsibly.

It’s a shame. Walker is a good player and would have been a good fit, even with Pattie on the horizon. This confirmation he won’t be coming any time soon isn’t a surprise, but it is saddening.

Shouts to oethesaint on Bluesky for letting me know this happened. Sign up the mailing list because the algorithm hates the Milk as much as the Sydney press. Also like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media and believe in the future with me. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.