August 30, 2026 — 9:51amRoosters star Sam Walker is set to undergo ankle surgery that will almost certainly end his season.Scan results revealed that 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.Multiple Roosters sources have confirmed Walker will undergo surgery, but the club is unwilling to rule a line through him completely given the typical 6-8 week recovery timeframe his operation entails.With the NRL grand final 35 days away, a miracle comeback won’t be completely dismissed given Cherry-Evans has made a five-week return from ankle surgery previously. Former captain and assistant coach Boyd Cordner’s recovery from a badly broken ankle to play in the 2013 decider is also the stuff of legend at Roosters HQ.Daly Cherry-Evans will now take charge of the Roosters attack.Getty ImagesIn any case though, 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.Walker’s sidelining comes after he and the club parked contract talks – with Walker taking a lead role in that decision – when the Roosters most recent five-year, $5 million offer fell short of what his camp believes he can get on the open market when the NRL’s salary cap rises.Both parties had agreed to wait until the Tricolours campaign ended before resuming negotiations. Walker’s preference has always been to ink a long-term extension at the club rather than go to market on November 1.This masthead reported two weeks ago that the Walker camp was seeking around $250,000-$300,000 more per season than the Roosters had originally offered.Sam Walker was in distress as he left the field on Saturday night.Getty ImagesOn the paddock, Trent Robinson’s side will take on arch-rivals South Sydney this Friday night, needing a win to guarantee a top-four finish.Walker’s absence is a telling blow, and comes alongside doubts around whether Victor Radley (concussion) will play or be kept on ice for another week leading into the finals.Radley suffered his eighth concussion or failed HIA in five years against the Wests Tigers last Sunday and is now required to gain clearance from an independent doctor to play again.He is due to complete the NRL’s mandatory 11-day stand-down concussion protocols a day before kick-off against the Rabbitohs, but the Roosters have always taken an ultra-conservative approach with players returning from head knocks as well, and no call has yet been made on the English international’s return.Veteran winger Daniel Tupou (shoulder) is firming to return against Souths, while rugby-union-bound back-rower Angus Crichton (broken foot) will be back either this Friday or in week one of the finals.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.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.Meanwhile, scans will confirm if Jarome Luai has played his last game for the Wests Tigers.Luai failed to finish the game against the Cowboys on Saturday night, with club officials confirming he suffered a lower leg injury.Coach Benji Marshall was not asked about Luai after the loss, and made it clear he was unimpressed with some of the refereeing decisions, which he labelled “outrageous”.Luai announced earlier this year he would be joining the PNG Chiefs for the start of the 2028 season, with the club later agreeing to cut him loose a year early to join Parramatta for the 2027 gap year.Should Luai miss out for next Sunday’s clash, Javon Andrews would be the most likely candidate to join Jock Madden in the halves.Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners