NRL

Sam Walker’s seemingly season-ending injury has taken a remarkable turn, with the Roosters superstar already back running at training just 12 days after undergoing syndesmosis surgery.

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The Queensland Origin halfback suffered a high-grade syndesmosis injury during the Roosters’ Round 26 loss to the Dolphins, with the initial prognosis leaving serious doubts over whether he could play again in 2026.

Walker underwent surgery the following day and the usual recovery period was expected to be around six to eight weeks, making even a potential grand final appearance appear ambitious at the time.

However, NRL Physio on X has revealed Walker is already back running less than two weeks after surgery, with a remarkable preliminary-final comeback now emerging as a genuine target return date despite only one other player managing a similar NRL turnaround form this type of injury.

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The development could have enormous implications for the Roosters’ premiership hopes, with Trent Robinson’s side needing to navigate the opening weeks of the finals before potentially welcoming its star halfback back for the biggest games of the season.

Sam Walker has returned to running on field — just 12 days post syndesmosis tightrope surgery.

Walker is reportedly hoping to return for a Prelim if the Roosters make it that far, which would be 4 weeks post surgery. A return that quick after syndesmosis surgery has been done… pic.twitter.com/LJtXZfbQBo
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 11, 2026

Their first challenge comes against minor premiers Penrith at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, where victory would immediately send the fourth-placed Roosters through to a preliminary final and give Walker another week to continue his recovery.

Even defeat would not end their season, with the Roosters’ top-four finish securing a double chance and leaving them needing to win a sudden-death semi-final the following weekend to reach the preliminary finals.

Importantly, Robinson has a significantly stronger side to carry the load without Walker, with Victor Radley returning from concussion, Daniel Tupou back from a shoulder injury and Angus Crichton named after missing 11 games with a foot problem, while a host of stars rested in the final round also return.

Daly Cherry-Evans will take control at halfback alongside Hugo Savala in Walker’s absence, giving the Roosters an experienced combination capable of keeping their premiership campaign alive while their first-choice No.7 races the clock.

There are still significant hurdles for Walker to clear before an NRL return can be confirmed, but a player initially feared to be finished for the season is suddenly progressing fast enough to give the Roosters genuine hope of having him back when a place in the grand final is potentially on the line is a major development.

If Robinson’s side can survive the next fortnight, the prospect of adding Walker to an already strengthened roster could suddenly make the Roosters an even more dangerous proposition at the pointy end of the premiership race.

A Walker comeback combined with a Roosters grand final appearance would also set the stage for one of the more remarkable injury return stories in recent finals history, while evoking memories of Cooper Cronk’s extraordinary effort in the 2018 decider.

Cronk famously played through a broken scapula as the Roosters defeated Melbourne to claim the premiership, before the club went back-to-back the following season with victory over Canberra.

That 2019 triumph remains the Roosters’ most recent premiership, and while Walker still has plenty of hurdles to clear, another dramatic injury comeback on the way to a grand final would provide an intriguing piece of history as the Tricolours chase premiership glory once again.

NRL

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