Walker’s return boosts Hornets
ROCHDALE Hornets have captured the signing of a familiar face with Anthony Walker joining the club until the end of the year.
The prop forward makes the move from Wakefield Trinity, two years after he joined the Super League club for the first-ever Qualifiers where they
‘I know he can’t wait to pull on the shirt for the remainder of the season’
defeated Bradford Bulls in the Million Pound Game.
At the time he was at St Helens, a club who he had been with since junior level, and had appeared for the Hornets under Ian Talbot on dual-registration.
After a string of impressive performances for the then League 1 club he earned himself a gig with the Yorkshire side under the tuition of Brian Smith.
It’s almost exactly two years since he was last at the club, but unfortunately those two seasons in the top flight has seen his game time reduced.
Subsequently he was sent out on loan to Whitehaven and more recently Dewsbury Rams, before Alan Kilshaw finally got his man after showing interest in Walker for over a year.
“The signing of Ant shows our intent to achieve the objectives we set out at the start of the season,” commented Kilshaw.
“He has previously played at Rochdale on dual registration when he was a junior at St Helens and has a great affection for the club.
“That is a great example of the club being player centred and having spoken to him I know he can’t wait to play again and pull on the shirt for the remainder of the season.
“He adds to the group both on and off the field and I am delighted to have finally got his signature after pursuing him for the last 18 months.”
Walker has also represented Wales a number of times and he helped sealed their place in the 2017 World Cup, as his try against Italy was crucial in their 20-14 qualifier victory.
After 22 appearances for the club he is now looking forward to returning to the Crown Oil Arena, insisting that he didn’t need much persuading to join some of his former team mates.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said the front rower. “I haven’t been playing for a couple of weeks now and I’ve had a couple of phone calls with some of the lads here, they didn’t have to sell me the club at all.
“It is on my doorstep and I played my best rugby at Rochdale a few years ago so I’m happy to be back and enjoying my rugby again.”
The last time he featured for Rochdale was in a 54-20 defeat away to Keighley Cougars back in June of the 2015 season, and he was also vital in a 14-12 last gasp win away to North Wales Crusaders.
In the two years since he last pulled on a Hornets shirt things haven’t gone exactly to plan for the 25-year-old, and he is now focused on regaining his love for the sport.
“I just want to be playing rugby every week and playing to the best of my ability, but just enjoying it again mainly,” continued Walker.
“The last couple of years haven’t gone how I have wanted them to go and I’ve kind of fallen out of love with the sport.
“Hopefully coming back here will make me enjoy it again and get me back to the form I was in before I signed for Wakefield.”
With a number of the current squad already familiar to Walker, that made his decision even easier as he is linking up with players who he has played alongside at a number of different levels.