- Chris Walker (rugby league)
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Chris Walker 
Walker while playing for Catalans in 2010 Personal information Born 27 February 1980
Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaHeight 6' (1.83 m) Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb) Playing information Position Fullback, Wing, Centre Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–02 Brisbane Broncos 67 40 0 0 160 2003 South Sydney 5 1 0 0 4 2003–05 Sydney Roosters 47 26 44 0 192 2006 Melbourne Storm 7 2 1 0 10 2007–09 Gold Coast Titans 20 10 3 0 46 2010 Catalans Dragons 12 6 2 0 28 2011 Parramatta Eels 5 2 0 0 8 Total 163 87 50 0 448 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2001–02 Queensland 6 4 0 0 16 As of 25 June 2011 Source: NRL Stats, RLP Chris Walker (born in 27 February 1980, in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL, he has played with six different NRL clubs. Walker is the younger brother of fellow professional rugby league players Shane Walker and Ben Walker. At one point in the late 1990s all three brothers were playing together for the Brisbane Broncos.
Playing career
While attending St. Mary's College, Toowoomba, in 1996, Walker was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys team.[1]
Walker has played for the Brisbane Broncos, the Melbourne Storm, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Sydney Roosters and the Gold Coast Titans as well as Queensland in all 6 State of Origin matches in 2001 and 2002. Walker scored in all three games of the 2001 State of Origin series. Also, along with Lote Tuqiri and Darren Lockyer, he was the top try-scorer for the Broncos in the 2002 season. Walker was also a try-scorer in the Roosters' loss in the 2003 NRL Grand Final. He also scored a try in the following year's Grand Final loss to the Bulldogs.
Walker gained a reputation as a "bad boy" of rugby league.[2] In 2004 he was involved in a drunken altercation with police outside a Fortitude Valley nightclub[3] The Roosters club fined the winger and placed him on an alcohol ban for the rest of the season.[4] He returned to score a try in the Grand Final.
In August, 2006, Walker was dropped by Melbourne Storm and was not picked up by any other NRL club. Then in November it was announced that he had been given a trial with the Gold Coast Titans. In early March 2007 after a series of strong performances in pre-season trial matches with the Titans, Walker signed a one-year deal with the Gold Coast club. In the first NRL premiership game for the new club Walker scored two tries, but then broke a bone in his hand early in the second half.
In April, 2007, while sidelined with injury, Walker was reported to have been ejected from a bar after for "bad behaviour".[5] The Gold Coast Titans suspended him as a result and it was later revealed that Walker had been suffering from alcoholism and an anxiety disorder.[6] After a period of rehabilitation and several games in the Queensland Cup, Walker returned to the NRL in Round 19 against the Bulldogs.[7]
In 2008 Walker suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon for the second time in five months.[8]
In 2009 he attracted interest from European Super League clubs, but said he did not want to play in Europe and he would prefer to stay in the NRL with a Queensland team.[9]
Chris has signed a two year deal with the Catalans Dragons in France.[10]
He returned to the to the NRL in 2011 to play with the Parramatta Eels.[11]
Chris Walker has approached Eels officials for permission leave the NRL club after a string of injuries. He will retire from the NRL at the end of the 2011 season.
References
- ^ "Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League". Sporting Pulse. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chris_Walker_%28rugby_league_footballer%29&action=edit§ion=2 The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2007. Story: "Walker suspended over bar incident"
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 3 May, 2004. Story: "Walker suspended over police incident"
- ^ ABC Sport, 3 May, 2004. Story: "Walker cops fine, booze ban after Brisbane arrest"
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21576063-5001023,00.html The Daily Telegraph, 18 April 2007. Story: "Walker in strife again"
- ^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21581337-23214,00.html Fox Sports, 19 April 2007. Story: "Titans fear for Walker"
- ^ "Walker's time to prove himself". Fox Sports Australia. 2007-07-24. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22127854-23214,00.html. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
- ^ "Walker snaps Achilles again". Fox Sports. 2008-03-15. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23381969-23214,00.htmlhtml. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
- ^ "Chris Walker cuts ties with Gold Coast and keen on move to Brisbane". Fox Sports. 2009-07-12. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25765340-5018866,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/gold-goast-star-chris-walker-signs-with-catalans-dragons-in-super-league/story-e6frexnr-1225810412857
- ^ "Chris Walker to play at Eels". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 November 2010. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/chris-walker-to-play-at-eels-20101103-17e3i.html.
He has since retired
External links
- Chris Walker at the State of Origin official website.
- Chris Walker at the Former Origin Greats website.
Parramatta Eels – current squad Inaugural Gold Coast Titans side v St George Illawarra Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 18 March 20071. Preston Campbell | 2. Lelea Paea | 3. Mat Rogers | 4. Jake Webster | 5. Chris Walker | 6. Matt Hilder | 7. Scott Prince (c) |
8. Luke Bailey (c) | 9. Clint Amos | 10. Kris Kahler | 11. Anthony Laffranchi | 12. Gavin Cooper | 13. Luke Swain |
14. Michael Henderson | 15. James Stosic | 16. Mark Minichiello | 19. Nathan Friend | Coach: John CartwrightCategories:- 1980 births
- Australian rugby league players
- Brisbane Broncos players
- Sydney Roosters players
- South Sydney Rabbitohs players
- Melbourne Storm players
- Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players
- Gold Coast Titans players
- Catalans Dragons players
- Living people
- Wentworthville Magpies players
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