Manly coach Des Hasler wouldn’t give too much away in his post-game press conference on Friday night, but he did reveal the Sea Eagles are in the process of re-signing born-again star Dylan Walker.
Walker scored a brilliant runaway try in the second half to stick the boot into the Roosters in a 42-6 semi-finals flogging in Mackay to book a date with South Sydney next week.
He’s won an NRL premiership at centre, and transitioned into a five-eighth after arriving at Brookvale, but has been thrown into a new role by Hasler this season.
Walker has been coming off the bench to play as a ball-playing lock, adding a new dimension to the Sea Eagles attack as they charge towards an unlikely title.
The 26-year-old, though, remains uncontracted beyond this season and so will technically be unemployed come November 1 unless he signs a new deal in the meantime.
The coach was asked about Walker’s contract situation post-game.
“We’re in negotiations,” Hasler said.
“He played well tonight, playing his 100th game for the club.
“He’s adapted really well, he’s just a real footballer, Dylan. He plays a lot of positions, he plays in the middle, he gives us that real good middle service and he’s got great experience.”
Hasler wasn’t too talkative despite booking his side a preliminary finals spot by thrashing one of the NRL’s great modern clubs.
He was asked whether he plans, if Walker stays at the club, to keep in the No.14 role next year.
“He’s been playing it for the last six or seven weeks… he will be playing it moving forward,” Hasler said.
“He’s got that utility value about him.”
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