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Chev Walker's point to prove on road to recovery
ONE name has been consistently overlooked in the ongoing debate as to who will fill the two centre berths for England in the Four Nations Championship against France, New Zealand and Australia this autumn: Chev Walker.
While the likes of Michael Shenton and Ryan Atkins have been repeatedly touted as potential successors to international stalwarts Keith Senior and Martin Gleeson, the Hull Kingston Rovers three-quarter has rarely been mentioned as a solution to one of national coach Tony Smith's most problematic positions.
It is not that Walker lacks the ability or the experience required to represent his country – he was capped six time by Great Britain prior to his move from Leeds to Bath in 2006 – more a case that many people appear to have forgotten what a talent the 26-year-old is.
That is not surprising, perhaps, given the misfortune Walker has endured following his return to league after a less-than-successful foray into rugby union three years ago.
Walker, who made just eight starts for the West Country club in his year-long sabbatical, has been more famous for his non-appearances for Hull KR in the last season-and-a-half, a period which has seen him miss 23 of the 40 league matches Rovers have played.
"I'm not a good spectator at the best of the times but the last two years have been terrible," said Walker, who returns to action against Castleford tonight after a nine-match absence with a shoulder injury. He also missed one match earlier in the year through suspension and sat out the latter half of the 2008 season with a wrist injury.
"I'd hardly been injured in my career before I signed for Rovers but I've not had much luck since I got here. It's been very frustrating but I can't wait for Friday night.
"I've had the Castleford game circled on the calendar ever since I saw the specialist after injuring my shoulder in March. It's only been seven weeks and I've not been too downhearted.
"It's hard to feel down because there's such a great buzz at the club and we're such a close group.
"The fact that we're doing so well makes returning that bit easier: it's always difficult joining a losing team."
Rovers are riding high in second place in the engage Super League table and stand just 160 minutes away from a first Wembley appearance since 1986, a position they have reached largely without one of their most potent strike players.
"The boys have done exceptionally well and I know I'm going to have to be at my best just to get a place in the 17 every week," said Walker. "We are where we are on merit, we aren't second because of the results of the teams below us.
"The confidence levels at this club are amazing and, hopefully, I can start feeding off that once I get playing again."
Walker is one of the few Rovers players to have played in a Challenge Cup final – he was a member of the Leeds teams beaten by Bradford and Hull
in 2003 and 2005 – and after losing in Cardiff twice would dearly love to taste success at Wembley. He is also keen to resurrect his international career but experience has taught him the dangers of looking too far ahead.
"Finals and England caps would be great but I feel I have something to prove first," said Walker.
"For now my aim is to do as much as I can to add to what the boys have already done and to try and be a success in every game.
"I owe it to my team-mates and I owe it to the Rovers fans, who have been very supportive. This is a club which is really going places and, hopefully, I'm going to stay injury-free long enough to help get Rovers where they want to be."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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