'Why roll the dice?': Chooks warned against Walker 'gamble'
The Roosters' star half is expected to miss much of the 2024 season, but Andrew Johns has urged the club to err on the side of caution.
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
Andrew Johns has urged the Roosters to err on the side of caution when it comes to Sam Walker's return from injury.
Having done his ACL in the club's round 26 loss to the Raiders last season, the tricolours' starting half is expected to miss much of this season recovering.
But Johns suggested the Roosters shouldn't take any risks upon his return, and give him the rest of the year off if they find themselves out of finals contention.
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"If he's back in say round 18 or 20, (and if the) Roosters are no chance of making the eight ... you wouldn't risk it, would you," he said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth.
"He's too much of an investment. There's no halfbacks out there, and god forbid he plays one game and does his knee again."
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Johns knows first hand the pitfalls of ACL injuries. The Knights legend tore his in 2004 and spent 10 months on the sidelines.
But on his return, he said it "just wasn't right" for another two months, taking the total recovery time to a year.
He revealed Walker had undergone a patella graft, which results in a stronger repair, but the recovery time can be longer.
Johns said given the club's investment in the 22-year-old and his age, the Roosters would be better off not playing him to give him all the extra time he can get to recover.
"If there's six weeks to go and you could not make the semi-finals, why roll the dice? Why gamble it?," he posed.
"If he doesn't play, then he has another six months before he plays again. You've gotta look at risk/reward."
Brad Fittler said a consistent halves paring is the key to a winning side.
"You've seen how important halves are - the teams who are winning have got halves who are consistent, who are there playing every week," he said.
"(Walker) has never had that time. He's had injuries before. You look at the size of him, he could really get away and develop and train and get strong."
