Walker nervous for return after ban

FORMER Huddersfield Giants player Adam Walker has spoken of his excitement as he prepares to make his comeback from a 20-month drugs ban.

The Scotland international – who has also played for St Helens, Hull KR and Wakefield – was suspended by UK AntiDoping after testing positive for cocaine use while playing for Trinity in July 2017.

Walker was handed a shortterm contract by Salford on the eve of this season and, after training with his new teammates from mid-January, is poised to make his Red Devils debut at Castleford tomorrow, four days after the expiry of his ban.

“I’m getting butterflies,” said prop Walker after being named in coach Ian Watson’s 19-man squad. “I’m not trying to think about it too much.

“I’m sure I’m going to be nervous. I don’t want to let the lads down, especially when they’ve been performing so well.

“Normally you play better when you’re enjoying it so I’m going to try and enjoy the moment.”

Walker, who began his career at Huddersfield in 2010, says he was affected by mental health issues at the time of his failed drugs test and got his life back in order with help from the Sporting Chance Clinic formed by former Arsenal and England footballer Tony Adams, the next president of the Rugby Football League.

“There were times when I thought I’d never get back into rugby,” Walker said. “I thought my career had gone pretty much.

“Now I can see this first game around the corner, hopefully I’m selected, it’s going to be a massive step for me.

“I see it as a fresh start for me. My body feels good, I actually feel better than I did when I was first coming through.

“I’m the fittest I’ve been and in the best shape of my life. Match fitness is totally different, so once you’re out there, it’s a matter of getting the first carries and then getting your second wind as well.”

Rather than send him out on loan to Rochdale, as he did with Adam Lawton, another of the club’s pre-season recruits, Watson is happy to pitch Walker straight back into Super League action.

“He looks great in training, outstanding,” Watson said. “We train a particular way so we’re really confident that he can come straight in on the back of that. In training, he’s held his own and looked very good.”