The Sydney Roosters' championship hopes have suffered a significant setback as their star halfback, Sam Walker, has been ruled out for the entire season due to a severe syndesmosis injury.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Walker will require season-ending surgery, putting an end to the tri-colours' finals aspirations.
During the game against the Dolphins, Walker had to leave in the 53rd minute after twisting his ankle awkwardly under the weight of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki in the Roosters' 26-12 defeat at Moore Park on Saturday.
The Dolphins player was cleared of any wrongdoing, but Walker exited in visible pain, raising worries about his availability for the rest of the 2026 season.
This injury is a significant blow to the Roosters' title quest as they seek their first premiership in seven years, having appeared to find a strong partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans and Walker leading the team.
The duo had recently achieved a notable 12-6 victory over the top-ranked Panthers in mid-August, but Trent Robinson now must find a replacement for the rest of the season.
This year marked a breakout for Walker, who played for Queensland in the State of Origin series for the first time.
He earned Player of the Match honors in Game 2 in Melbourne after delivering an outstanding performance in the 44-24 win against the NSW Blues.
Following Saturday's match, Robinson expressed hope for Walker's recovery, but the scans confirmed a dire situation for the tri-colours in their quest for greatness.