By PETER JESSUP
Andrew Walker has a big boot on him and he's not ashamed to flaunt it.
"I've got one of the biggest kicks in the NRL so you're a mug if you don't use it," said Walker ahead of the game against the Warriors at Ericsson Stadium tomorrow.
The 30-year-old was shifted to five-eighth for the Sea Eagles last weekend against St George and so competes this weekend with Stacey Jones.
The Warriors star is playing his 201st NRL match and will be honoured at his home ground for reaching the double century mark.
A framed jersey is to be presented after the game, though the award will be overshadowed if Jones cannot lead his team out of the wilderness.
Just as the Eagles will be looking to shut down Jones, so the Warriors must keep Walker out of the contest as much as possible by cutting his time and options.
Walker said he had a quiet game against the Dragons, a 21-10 win for the home side at Brookvale Oval, but it was his steering of the team and switches of play that kept the Dragons under pressure.
He didn't kick much last weekend but feels that will come with time back in the number six jersey. "I haven't played there for five years," he said. That was at the Roosters and then he was more often at fullback.
"I felt comfortable there but I know I'll wear into it more, my kicking game will feature more. So far I've just been happy not to make any mistakes."
Walker considers himself lucky to have been able to play both rugby codes at international level. He has no regret about his old Super 12 side, the Brumbies, playing in finals again. He's been there, done that and it was clear he wouldn't make the Wallabies again.
Not that he expects to make the Kangaroos either. His one and only test was back in 1996 and a far younger crop is now competing for selection.
He started in league as a small boy and, after three seasons in rugby that were scarred by various personal problems, some involving drinking, he spurned union offers and turned back to his roots in league. The Brumbies offered a one-year deal, he wanted two.
"I didn't want to go anywhere but the Brumbies because that's something special they've got down there.
"I enjoyed my time there, it's a great environment. I wanted two more years then maybe look overseas but it didn't happen."
At Manly he got a two-year deal and, just this week, club management called Walker in for a meeting to tell him they were impressed with his eight games so far, and his attitude on and off the field. When the existing contract comes up for renewal they will not be looking at his birth certificate, just his form.
Walker likes the lifestyle at Manly. He lives at nearby Belrose with his wife, Leona, their three daughters and son and a niece from a relative with the sort of problems he once had.
"I'm a family man now and that's the sort of family man I am, I want to help."
He has a passion for the game, he is feeling happy with his form and is not carrying any injuries.
He's wary of the Warriors, as are others at the Manly club, who echoed Walker's thoughts that they are about to turn a corner and put lots of points on someone. But he feels growing confidence around him, too.
"Both teams [Manly and the Warriors] have been playing in patches and the goal for both sides is to put 80 minutes together and complete their sets.
"We've been scoring 20 points but giving away 30. We've got 11 new blokes including me and it's only now that we're starting to believe in ourselves," Walker said.
Back in Sydney there was as much focus on a deal to inject cash into the struggling Eagles as there was about the game.
Manly members, dwindling at about the 500 mark, will be asked to vote on June 3 on a proposal, already approved by their board, whereby northern beaches real estate magnate Max Delmage buys a 62.5 per cent holding in the Sea Eagles for A$3.5 million ($4 million).
Under the plan Delmage gets 3.5 million shares, the existing football club holds 2 million shares and another sponsor, Penn Sport, pays A$100,000 for 100,000 shares.
The Manly players arrived in Auckland yesterday unconcerned about the ownership issue and went to a gym session, Nathan Tutt and Kane Cleal from the named seven-man bench left behind.
They run at North Harbour Stadium today at 11am in a session open to the public. Some players are then expected at the Otahuhu ground to watch local league.
The Warriors trained yesterday without problem. The only Warriors in the split round of Bartercard Cup this weekend are Justin Murphy and Herewini Rangi for the Tornadoes against Central Falcons. WaiCoa Bay meet Glenora and the Hibiscus Coast play Wellington as the Ericsson curtainraiser.
NRL chief executive David Gallop was on the Gold Coast yesterday to meet the backers of a bid for a 16th team in that area, who have a $10 million guarantee and a coach and chief executive in waiting.
The NRL is investigating the suggestion that the Roosters have tried to entice Broncos five-eighth Darren Lockyer south, given the recently announced retirement of Brad Fittler from season's end, in breach of the anti-tampering regulations.
NRL auditors will speak to Roosters management and Lockyer's manager, George Mimis.
ANDREW WALKER
Born: 22/11/73 Nowra, south of Sydney.
NRL debut: St George 1992.
NRL: Dragons 1992-94, Roosters 1995-99.
Super 12: ACT Brumbies 2000-03.
League test: 1, 1996.
Rugby tests: 7.
* Warriors vs Sea Eagles, Ericsson Stadium, 2pm tomorrow
* Visit nzherald.co.nz throughout the weekend for Warriors updates.
Warriors draw and results - 2004 NRL
Other NRL fixtures and points table
Walker ready for Warriors boots and all
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