He was named 22nd man in Queensland's squad for the State of Origin decider, but Sam Walker is ready to make the step up should Maroons Coach Billy Slater call him in.
The 20-year-old half was whisked away to Queensland's Origin camp following a strong campaign in just his second year in the NRL, which has seen him score five tries, set up a further seven and force seven drop-outs for the Roosters.
Walker's Wizardry in Magic Round
Now with the Maroons squad shuffled due to covid-19 protocols, Walker very well could find himself on the pitch come Wednesday night if any other disruptions happen.
That opportunity very well may not have eventuated if he didn't answer the random number that popped up on his phone.
“I was back home anyway in Brissy, we had the week off and I went to stay back with the family,” Walker explained.
“I got the phone call and it was a random number. I was driving and I almost left it and didn’t answer the call.
“I thought I may as well answer it and it happened to be Billy and he told me the good news. I was over the moon, I tried to keep pretty cool but I was stoked.
"I couldn’t wait to get off the phone and tell my family and close friends. They were really proud.
He’s been here for a couple of camps now and he’s on top of it all. It’s always good to have someone you’re mates with and from the same Club as well.
Sam Walker On Lindsay Collins during Origin camp
"To be part of the squad, it’s something that’s bigger than yourself and it’s a massive deal for my friends and family.
“They were all super stoked.”
While the notion of joining a camp of some of the game's elites - in both the playing squad and coaching staff - can be a daunting task, Walker says that the experience so far has been nothing short of a dream come true.
After all, he still has Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins to call upon, not to mention the likes of Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston to sponge as much knowledge off.
“He’s been awesome,” the young half said of Collins.
“He’s been here for a couple of camps now and he’s on top of it all. It’s always good to have someone you’re mates with and from the same Club as well.
“It’s been awesome to have him but also guys like Billy, JT and Cam as well, those sort of fellas you watched when you were younger.
“The coaching staff has been really good. They’ve been there before and done it all before and really draw from their experience on what you need to do.
“I’ve never been there and haven’t done it before so it’s really cool to listen to them and learn as much as I can off of them.
“That’s the way I look at it – I’m training with the best and I’m trying to learn as much as I can while I’m at it."
Should the opportunity present itself, Walker says that he's ready to take his place as the Club's latest Maroons representative.
In doing so, he'll come up against his Tricolour teammates James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Angus Crichton in search of taking the Origin Shield from their grasp.
“I’ll be trying to steer clear of all of them, to be honest,” he laughed.
“I’ll prepare as if I’m playing but I’m really looking forward to seeing the boys run out tomorrow night and seeing how they prepare for the game.
“But it’d be awesome. It’s my favourite ground to play at and to be in front of my family and the community would be a dream come true.”
