A sports science expert with over three decades of experience has expressed concerns for Sam Walker ahead of his State of Origin debut. Greg Blood, who spent more than 30 years at the Australian Institute of Sport, has spoken publicly about his worries for the young Queenslander's physical health.
Painkiller Concerns
Blood's comments surfaced after reports emerged claiming Walker had taken painkilling injections for 22 consecutive weeks for a shoulder injury during his debut season in 2021. 'He's talented, brave and tough, no doubt about it,' Blood told Nine News. 'But athletes should not be playing if they rely on painkillers. The health of the athlete should be paramount and the long-term effects of painkillers are still a bit of a grey area.'
Long-Term Health Fears
Blood has concerns about how long the Roosters star can endure the physical punishment of the NRL. 'Given that he is so much smaller than some of these guys who will be running at him and trying to hurt him, I have real fears about how long his career will last,' he said. An injury like Walker's, which affected his AC joint, typically sidelines players for up to six weeks, but the 22 injections helped Walker through his challenging debut season.
Support from Coach and Family
Queensland coach Billy Slater has backed the 23-year-old after selecting him to play his first State of Origin match at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night. Sam's father, Ben Walker, a former player himself, revealed more about his son's difficulties during the 2021 season. 'In Sam's first NRL game, when he had just turned 18, he had done his AC joint the week before,' Ben Walker said. 'We didn't really say too much to the club because he knew he was going to get his debut the next week. So he got needled every single week that first year, and in one game he got a needle at halftime as well.'
