Surgery to rule Sam Walker out for season in brutal Roosters blow

Roosters star Sam Walker is set to undergo season-ending ankle surgery.

Scan results have revealed Walker suffered a high-grade syndesmosis strain in Saturday’s 26-12 loss to the Dolphins and requires a corrective operation to his ankle, potentially as early as Monday.

Walker was sent for scans on Saturday night after he was collected in an awkward collision with Dolphins back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, with follow-up consultations on Sunday morning confirming the club’s worst fears.

Veteran recruit Daly Cherry-Evans and utility Hugo Savala shape as a ready-made halves pairing in Walker’s absence.

The injury is an especially cruel blow for Walker, who has been in career-best form after suffering a season-ending ACL rupture leading into the finals two years ago.

For the Roosters, back-to-back losses to the Tigers and Dolphins over the past two rounds have dropped Trent Robinson’s side from first to fourth on the ladder.

They must now beat arch-rivals South Sydney next Friday night to guarantee a top-four finish. Losing to the Rabbitohs would open the door for Cronulla to pinch fourth place if they can finish the regular season with wins over Parramatta and Melbourne.

The Dolphins’ victory sees them leapfrog the Roosters to third on the NRL ladder, while the Roosters slip to fourth.