SAM TACKLES ANGUS BEEF
GETTING trampled at training by a rampaging Angus Crichton for the past 18 months has Sydney Roosters young gun Sam Walker convinced he is ready to tackle anything that comes his way in the NRL this year.
The 18-year-old excitement machine showed in his first top-grade appearance against Canberra on the weekend that the raps about him being one of the most talented young halves to emerge in years are spot on.
But his slight frame has some concerned that, physically, Walker may not be ready to handle the defensive responsibilities that go with playing in the NRL.
But one man who has no questions about Walker’s physicality is the man rated arguably the NRL’S toughest player to tackle.
“He has come a long way since he first came here,” Crichton said.
TOWNSVILLE tennis ace John-patrick Smith and doubles partner Matt Ebden have put the world on notice in their short time together.
Smith signalled after a quarter-finals finish at the Australian Open, in their first tournament as a pairing, that the pair had eyed off a long run at the grand slams.
The pair will now double down on that after making it to the final of the ATP 250 tour event in Singapore.
While the Australian pair went down in straight sets to No.1 seeds Belgian duo Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, the intention was clear during a strong tournament.
Smith admitted he doesn’t know what makes the duo successful despite spending limited time with each other at the same end of the court.
Fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin secured his first ATP Tour tournament victory at the Singapore Open.