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'A bit shocked': Kangaroo's take on contract call
Melissa Woods, AAP •  October 28th, 2026 8:06 am
Sam Walker is said to be focused on the World Cup despite his dramas in clubland | Photo: Matt Roberts/AAP
Liam Martin insists Kangaroos stars including halfback Sam Walker are intent on keeping focus on the Rugby League World Cup despite constant club contract chatter.
The Australian team is in Townsville to prepare for their round three match at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night against the Cook Islands.
While they remain unbeaten, the Kangaroos' performances against New Zealand and Fiji have been far from convincing.
But the talking point early this week has been Australian teammates Sam Walker and Hudson Young, with their NRL clubs withdrawing lucrative contract offers.
Hudson Young's contract withdrawal came only hours before Sam Walker's | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
If Walker and his Sydney Roosters, and Young and Canberra, don't get back to the bargaining table, the pair will join a swag of other stars in Kangaroos camp who will become free agents on November 1.
Martin said it was business as usual for the seemingly unflappable Walker, with the 24-year-old showing no signs of distraction despite his contract turmoil.
"We were all a bit shocked by it, but he's been great," Martin said of Walker.
"He's been upbeat. He sort of took control of the training session there and you wouldn't even be able to tell, he didn't miss a beat, so I think that's a real credit to his personality and who he is as a person."
Despite not missing a beat, Walker was edged by hometown hero Tom Dearden in the choice of a partner for Cameron Munster in the halves when the Australian team to play the Cook Islands was named on Tuesday.
Walker was named in the No. 20 jumper.
Liam Martin says he's hoping to re-sign with Penrith | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Australia's squad features 11 players who are set to hit the open market.
That includes Munster, Harry Grant, Latrell Mitchell, Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Isaah Yeo and Martin himself.
The second-rower said the unusual situation had made for some good banter.
"We're all getting into one another, going, 'Oh, where are you looking at on realestate.com'," he said with a smile.
"It's good to have that sort of banter, but I think what the group does really well is we don't let it distract us - once we're training we're on and we're focused on what the job is at hand."
Martin says re-signing with Penrith, where he has won four premierships in eight seasons, remains his preferred option.
"It's obviously pretty tricky, you know, we've got a lot of boys to get done (signed)," the 29-year-old said.
"We've got both our co-captains (Yeo and Nathan Cleary), and Moses Leota, so hopefully, fingers crossed, I can work out a deal and stay there as I absolutely love being there and it's still my number one choice."
"We've got both our co-captains (Yeo and Nathan Cleary), and Moses Leota, so hopefully, fingers crossed, I can work out a deal and stay there as I absolutely love being there and it's still my number one choice."
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