Sam Walker has been chosen by coach Billy Slater to make his State of Origin debut as halfback for Queensland, replacing the injured Tom Dearden.
Walker, from Ipswich, follows in the footsteps of legendary halfback Allan Langer, who also played junior rugby league at Norths Tigers. His family has a deep history in rugby league: his father Ben played NRL for the Broncos, and his uncle Chris played six Origins for Queensland.
Walker expressed pride in representing Ipswich and acknowledged the influence of Langer on his playing style. Slater stated that Walker was the best option for the role, citing his passion for Queensland and his ability to unlock the potential of other players.