Dylan Walker

Dylan Walker (born 27 September 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and five-eighth for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL and has played for Australia at international level.

Dylan Walker
Personal information
Born (1994-09-27) 27 September 1994
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–15 South Sydney 63 34 2 0 140
2016– Manly Sea Eagles 80 27 40 0 192
Total 143 61 42 0 332
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014 City Origin 1 0 0 0 0
2014 Australia 4 0 0 0 0
2015 NRL All Stars 1 1 0 0 4
2016 New South Wales 2 0 0 0 0
2017 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
2020 New Zealand Maori 1 1 0 0 0
As of 24 September 2019
Source: [1]

He previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with whom he won the 2014 NRL Premiership. Walker played for City Origin, NRL All Stars, New South Wales and the Prime Minister's XIII.

Following his arrest in December 2018 for the alleged assault of his fiancée, Walker was stood down by Manly and later the NRL. On 10 May 2019 the charges were dismissed and he was cleared to resume playing.

Background

Walker was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Walker played his junior rugby league in the South Sydney Juniors competition for the Mascot Jets before being signed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Walker attended Matraville Sports High School.[2] Walker played in the Rabbitohs NYC team in 2012-2013. In August 2012, Walker also played for the Australian Schoolboys.[3]

Walker's mother is a Pitcairner and his father is Maori. He is a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian on his mother's side.[2]

Playing career

2013

On 20 April, Walker played for the New South Wales Under 20s team against the Queensland Under 20s team at centre in the Blues 36-12 win at Penrith Stadium.[4][5] In Round 10, Walker made his NRL debut for the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the Wests Tigers at centre and scoring a try in the Rabbitohs 54-10 win at ANZ Stadium.[6] Walker finished his promising debut year in the NRL with him playing in 16 matches, scoring 8 tries and kicking 1 goal.

Walker playing for the NSW under-20s team in 2013

2014

On 14 February, Walker was named in Souths inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[7] At the start of the 2014 NRL season, due to the new Rabbitohs appointed five-eighth Luke Keary getting injured in the Nines tournament and John Sutton being shifted to play in the forwards, Walker was appointed to be five-eighth.[8] Walker played five-eighth in his junior years. He had his first start at five-eighth in round 1 against the Sydney Roosters where the Rabbitohs won 28-8.[9] Walker played at five-eighth till round 4 before being shifted back to his preferred position at centre and John Sutton filling in at five-eighth until Keary returned from injury.

On 4 May, Walker was selected to play at centre for City Origin against Country Origin in the 26-26 all draw in Dubbo.[10][11] In Round 9 against the Gold Coast Titans, Walker scored 4 tries in the Rabbitohs 40-18 win.[12] On 5 October, in the Rabbitohs 2014 NRL Grand Final against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Walker played at centre in the Rabbitohs 30-6 victory.[13][14] On 14 October 2014, Walker was selected for the Australian Kangaroos 2014 Four Nations 24-man squad.[15] Walker made his international debut against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium, starting at centre then played at fullback in the 2nd half filling in for Greg Inglis in Australia’s 30-12 loss.[16] Walker played in all of Australia's 4 matches, including playing at centre in the 22-18 loss in the final against New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.[17]

2015

On 23 January 2015, Walker was named in the South Sydney Rabbitohs tournament winning 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[18] On 13 February, Walker played centre for NRL All Stars for the 2015 All Stars match at Cbus Super Stadium. Walker scored a try in the side’s 20-6 loss to the Indigenous All Stars.[19] On 23 February 2015, Walker played for the Rabbitohs in the 2015 World Club Series match against 2014 Super League Grand Final premiers St. Helens, playing at centre and scored a try in the Rabbitohs 39-0 win at Langtree Park.[20] In the 2015 NRL season Round 1 opener against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Walker scored the first try of the 2015 season in the Rabbitohs 36-6 win.[21] On 13 June 2015, Walker was included into the New South Wales Blues origin squad as 19th man leading up to Game 2 of the 2015 State of Origin series.[22] Walker finished the 2015 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 13 tries for the Rabbitohs. In the early hours of 22 September 2015, Walker and fellow South Sydney teammate and best friend Aaron Gray were hospitalized after the pair overdosed on prescription drugs Oxycodone and Tramadol at Gray's apartment in Rosebery.[23] The pair were discovered by another friend of them who alerted emergency services and the pair were sent to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition placed in induced comas.[24] The pair were released from hospital three days later to front the media about the unfortunate situation.[25] Later on 26 November, Walker was released from the final year of his Rabbitohs contract after requesting a release, after finding out that he was fined five percent of his contract and the club angry at him for bringing the club into disrepute.[26][27][28]

On 17 December 2015, Walker signed with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on a 4-year deal starting from 2016, after he was heavily linked to sign with them since his release from the Rabbitohs, putting the end to his tumultuous off season. Although he has played most of his first-grade career in the centres, Walker has been touted by new Manly coach Trent Barrett and Sea Eagles legend and rugby league Immortal Bob Fulton, themselves Australian former international five-eighths, as the replacement five-eighth for New Zealand international half Kieran Foran who has moved to play for Parramatta from 2016. At the official announcement of his signing during a Sea Eagles pre-season training camp in Coffs Harbour, Walker told the Sydney Morning Herald "Five-eighth was my favourite position coming through the juniors and if the coach (Barrett) wants me there I will jump at the opportunity".[29][30]

2016

On 13 January, Walker was named in the emerging New South Wales Blues squad.[31] In Round 1 of the 2016 NRL season, he made his club debut for the Sea Eagles against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, starting at five-eighth in the Sea Eagles' 28-6 loss at Brookvale Oval.[32] In Round 2 against the Wests Tigers, he scored his first club try for the Sea Eagles in the 36-22 loss at Leichhardt Oval.[33] On 1 June, he made his debut for New South Wales against Queensland in Game 1 of the 2016 State of Origin series, coming off the interchange bench. He came onto the field at the 71st minute, and made an error shortly after.[34][35]

2017

For the 2017 season, Walker was shifted back to centre in the Manly side. In round 8 against Canberra, Walker missed a conversion to win the game for Manly in normal time and got into an on-field incident with Canberra player Josh Hodgson. In extra time, Walker kicked a penalty goal to win the game for Manly despite being heckled by the Canberra players behind the goal. On 28 June 2017 against Cronulla, Cronulla player Jayden Brailey attempted to tackle Walker but broke his jaw in two places as a result, Walker was seen on camera abusing Brailey as he left the field. At the end of the season, Walker was named Dally M Centre of the year. On 28 September 2017 it was revealed Walker broke his leg and fractured his ankle while playing for The Australian prime ministers side.[36][37][38]

2018

In Round 11 2018, Walker suffered a fractured eye socket after getting into a fist fight with Melbourne player Curtis Scott. According to the other players on the field, Walker had been heckling Scott for most of the game when the fight broke out in the second half. After the game scans revealed that Walker would be out for 6–8 weeks.[39][40]

2019

In round 10 of the 2019 NRL season, Walker played his first game of the season and scored a try in his first game back since being stood down from the NRL. Walker made a total of 17 appearances for Manly in 2019 as the club finished 6th on the table and qualified for the finals. Walker played in both finals matches as the club reached the elimination semi-final against South Sydney in which Manly were defeated by his old club 34-26 at ANZ Stadium.[41][42][43]

Assault allegations

On 6 December 2018, Walker was arrested by police after allegedly assaulting his fiancée Alexandra Ivkovic that day at their home on Sydney’s northern beaches. He was charged with domestic-related common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.[44]

The altercation was triggered by Ivanovo preparing dinner early and asking Walker whether he would prefer to use a fork or a spoon, while he wanted to continue playing his PlayStation. At a pre-trial court hearing on 26 February 2019 it was revealed that in two video statements and multiple written statements to police, Ivkovic had said that Walker pulled her to the ground by her ponytail, while she was holding their four month-old son in her arms, causing her to sustain several bloodied minor cuts. These statements were supported by the only witness, her neighbour. However, at the hearing, Ivkovic told the court that she believed Walker did not pull, but “touched my hair”, at which point she over-balanced and fell.[45] The NRL applied its new no-fault stand down policy, so Walker was suspended indefinitely.

On 10 May 2019, at the court hearing, the magistrate dismissed the charges, saying she was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Walker had assaulted his partner. The NRL stated immediately that its no fault stand down had expired and therefore Walker became free to resume playing for Manly.[46]

References
  1. "Dylan Walker - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  2. "Souths Centre Dylan Walker is a Rare Commodity; a Local Junior". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  3. "ASSRL Schoolboys rugby league news, Australian Secondary School Rugby League, Australian Schoolboys". Ourfootyteam.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  4. "Under 20s Origin squads named". NRL.com. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  5. "NSW Smash Queensland in Under 20s State of Origin Clash". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  6. "Rabbitohs Demolish Tigers 54-10". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  7. "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  8. "Dylan Walker Ready to Tackle NRL Big Boys". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  9. "Souths run Roosters ragged in 28-8 whipping". NRL.com. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  10. "City Origin team named". NRL.com. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  11. "Hulking Centre Jamal Idris Stars in THrilling City/Country Draw in Dubbo". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  12. "Kangaroos v New Zealand Trans-Tasman Test at AAMI Park in Melbourne". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  13. "RabbitohsWin 2014 Grand Final". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  14. "Rabbitohs Grand Final Player Ratings". NRL.com. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  15. "Rabbitohs Dylan Walker to be named in Australia's Test Squad". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  16. Brad Walter (1 November 2014). "Four Nations: Greg Inglis tips Dylan Walker to bounce back against England". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  17. "New Zealnd Champions after Defeating Australia 22-18 in Wellington". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  18. "RABBITOHS UNVEIL 2015 NINES SQUAD". Rugby League Week. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  19. "Indigenous All Stars leave it late". NRL.com. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  20. "Rabbitohs Thrash St Helens to Complete Aussie Series Sweep". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  21. "Broncos v Rabbitohs". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  22. "Dylan Walker Brought into Blues Camp". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  23. "Dylan Walker collapsed in his own vomit and Aaron Gray was not breathing after prescription drug overdose - as police found empty energy drink cans nearby South Sydney Rabbitohs stars". Mail Online. 22 September 2015.
  24. "Rabbitohs Duo Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray Rushed to Hospital". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  25. "Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray released from hospital after severe reaction to prescribed painkillers". Stuff. 25 September 2015.
  26. "Rabbitohs release Dylan Walker | NRL". Zero Tackle. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  27. "Dylan Walker Spat Out Like a Piece of Meat as Rabbitohs Release Star Centre". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  28. "Dylan Walker, Aaron Gray Punished for Painkiller Overdose". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  29. "Manly Sea Eagles sign Dylan Walker from South Sydney Rabbitohs". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  30. "Sea Eagles sign Dylan Walker". NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com.
  31. "Daley names 2016 Emerging Blues". NRL.com. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  32. Michael Carayannis. "NRL round one: Canterbury Bulldogs thump Trent Barrett's Manly Sea Eagles". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  33. "Tedesco treble beats Manly". NRL.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  34. "Updated team lists: Holden State of Origin I". NRL.com. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  35. Adrian Proszenko. "State of Origin 2016: Walker's on, but only just". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  36. "Walker has the last laugh for Manly". National Rugby League. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  37. Sharks.com.au (28 June 2017). "Sharks hooker Jayden Brailey breaks jaw in two places". zerotackle.com. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  38. "More surgery for Dylan Walker". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  39. "NRL: What Dylan Walker said to spark punch from Melbourne Storm's Curtis Scott". 21 May 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  40. Best, Cameron (21 May 2018). "Curtis Scott gets just two weeks for breaking Dylan Walker's eye socket". ABC News. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  41. "South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Manly Sea Eagles 34-26 in NRL semi-final". ABC.
  42. "Rabbitohs dig deep to eliminate Sea Eagles in finals thriller". NRL.
  43. "Under-strength Sea Eagles send Sharks packing". NRL.
  44. "Walker stood down from Manly training after charge of assaulting fiancee". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  45. "Court told of scuffle involving Manly's Dylan Walker". NRL.com. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  46. "Dylan Walker found not guilty of domestic violence charges, NRL says no-fault standdown has expired". ABC news. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
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